Pope focuses on refugees on Christmas Eve
Christians around the world celebrated Christmas Eve on Sunday.
In Vatican City remarks, Pope Francis likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migration of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life and he expressed hope that no one will feel “there is no room for them on this Earth.”
Francis celebrated late evening Christmas vigil Mass in the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, telling the faithful that the “simple story” of Jesus’ birth in a manger changed “our history forever. Everything that night became a source of hope.”
Meanwhile, it was a subdued Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, the historic birthplace of Jesus, with spirits dampened by recent violence sparked by President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Crowds were thinner in the West Bank City than previous years. Although there was no violence Sunday, Palestinian officials scaled back the celebrations in protest.
And Trump opened his first Christmas Eve as president by offering season’s greetings to U.S. troops stationed around the world and chatting with children who called into a Defense Department program that tracks Santa Claus’ flight path.
“Today and every day, we’re incredibly thankful for you and for your families,” Trump told the troops via video hook-up from his Florida estate, where he is spending the holidays with his family. “Your families have been tremendous. Always underappreciated, the military families. The greatest people on Earth.”
Later he offered encouragement when a young caller to the Santa line from Virginia wanted to find building blocks under the tree. “Santa moves very quickly. He’ll be at your house very late at night when you’re sleeping,” Trump said.