Pope Francis asked people this Christmas to “do something good” during his homily at the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday.
“God does not want appearances, but concreteness,” the Pope said.
“May we not let this Christmas go by without doing something good.”
Earlier this month, Francis had asked people to spend less on Christmas gifts and instead donate money to people in the Ukraine.
The Vatican has created a website for donations and has connected with the Italian crowdfunding site to provide thermal clothing for winter in Ukraine.
The Italian crowdfunding site, www.eppela.com, has already received more than 188,000 euros ($200,000). The Vatican said it is collecting donations until early January.
Francis, who remained seated for most of the Mass due to a knee problem, also spoke about children “devoured by war, poverty and injustice” who are victims of “a world hungry for money, power and pleasure,” he said.
The Pope encouraged people to feel closer to God regardless of their situation in life.
“God was born in a manger so that you could be reborn in the same place where you thought you had hit rock bottom,” he said.
The CNN Wire
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