Look beyond the lights and remember the poor, Pope Francis says on Christmas Eve

Pope Francis, leading the world's Roman Catholics into Christmas, said on Friday that people who are indifferent to the poor offend God, urging all to "look beyond all the lights and decorations" and remember the neediest.

Pope Francis leaves after celebrating Christmas Eve Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 24, 2021. In his homily, Pope Francis reminded everyone to look 'beyond all the lights and decorations,' and 'contemplate the child.' He wove his homily the around the theme that Jesus was born with nothing. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Minutes before the Christmas Eve Mass started, Italy reported a second successive record daily tally of COVID-19 cases, with new infections hitting 50,599. Pope Francis, who turned 85 last week, said the baby Jesus born in poverty should remind people that serving others is more important than seeking status or social visibility or spending a lifetime in pursuit of success.

He quoted a line from a poem by Emily Dickinson — "Who has found the heaven – below – Will fail of it above" — and added in his own words: "Let us not lose sight of heaven; let us care for Jesus now, caressing him in the needy, because in them he makes himself known."

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