Pope Francis condemns world of materialism and poverty

Eighty-two year-old Pope Francis, as head of the Roman Catholic Church spoke out while leading a service in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass urged more “sharing and giving”, denouncing the “insatiable greed” of modern consumerism. He called on people in developed countries to live a simpler and less materialistic life. He also condemned the huge divide between the world’s rich and poor, saying Jesus’s birth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning of life.

On Christmas Day on Tuesday, the Pope delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” ( to the city and the world) message from the balcony of St Peter’s.

“My thoughts turn to Yemen, in the hope that the truce brokered by the international community may finally bring relief to all those children and people exhausted by war and famine,” he said from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. He also said he hoped the international community would “work decisively for a political solution” in Syria – a country that is approaching its eight year of civil war. “So that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their country,” he added.