Pope Francis has reminded the world’s Catholics to lower themselves in humility as they celebrate Christmas. In a message shared on his Twitter handle, he said “if we truly want to celebrate Christmas, let us rediscover awe before a God who becomes little, who is not born in splendour, but in the poverty of a stable.” “To meet Him, we must go where He is. We must lower ourselves, make ourselves little,” he added. Celebrating the 10th Christmas of his pontificate at a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican, according to media reports, Francis asked people to look beyond consumerism that has “packaged” the feast and remember those suffering from war and poverty. This, he said, while urging people to remember the war weary and poor. Men and women in our world, in their hunger for wealth and power, consume even their neighbours, their brothers and sisters, he said. How many wars have we seen! And in how many places, even today, are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt! His message continues saying that “Jesus asks us to go to the bare reality of things, to lay down all our excuses, our justifications and our hypocrisies at the feet of the manger.” Christmas is celebrated across the world by Christian believers to reflect on their belief while upholding the faith and values of Christianity. It is also an opportunity for families and friends to reconnect. In Rwanda, just like in other countries, different Christian denominations hold mass services.
