Pope Leo XIV Urges Kindness to Strangers and the Poor in Christmas Eve Mass
Pope Leo XIV used his Christmas Eve mass to urge Christians to help strangers and the poor, emphasizing that failing to assist those in need equates to rejecting God. He highlighted that when there is room for the human person, there is room for God, and stated that a stable can be as sacred as a temple. The pope linked the birth of Jesus to the presence of God in every person and condemned the distorted economy that treats people as merchandise.
Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, was elected in May 2025 to succeed Pope Francis. He has made care for migrants and the poor central to his papacy and has criticized Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, reflecting his stance on migration.
The Christmas Eve mass was attended by about 6,000 people inside St Peter's Basilica and approximately 5,000 outside in St Peter's Square, where they watched on screens despite the rain. Before the mass began, the pope greeted the crowd outside.
He is scheduled to celebrate a Christmas Day mass and deliver the Urbi et Orbi blessing to the city and world on Thursday.
