Pope's Xmas Message: ''To Be Like God, Don't be Above the Others, But Come Down and Serve Them''

Pope Francis talked about Christmas and the birth of Jesus in Wednesday's General Audience. 

This week's audience had quite a Latin touch. First, a group of mariachis dedicated a few songs to Pope Francis and then, he warmly greeted his soccer team, San Lorenzo de Almagro.

Pope Francis: "I specially greet the soccer football team San Lorenzo de Almagro, that comes here after winning the championship last Sunday and brings the trophy. Thank you very much."

In his catechesis, the Pope explained that Christmas is the season of hope and confidence. The birth of Jesus, he added, brings the good news that God loves human beings in an infinite way. He urged pilgrims to repeat aloud the meaning of the name of Jesus.

Pope Francis: "He is God among us. Jesus is God among us. Do you believe this? Let's do altogether this confession: 'Jesus is God among us.'"

Everybody: "Jesus is God among us." And again... Very good. Thanks. Jesus is God with us. He has always been and will always be among us in the suffering and pain of History."

Pope Francis also explained that with His birth, God has become poor and small, He has reached out. The Pope concluded that to imitate Him, Christians should do the same, and that doing otherwise would be paganism.

Pope Francis: "It means that to be like Him, we do not have to place ourselves above the others, but come down, come down and serve them, become small among the small and poor among the poor.

It's a bad thing when one sees a Christian that does not want to come down, a Christian that uses everything to show off. Not nice, eh? That is not Christian, that is paganism."

On his way across Saint Peter's Square, the Pope got off his Popemobile to greet some kids and youngsters, and also a group of recently ordained priests from the Legionaries of Christ. They offered him mate.

Although the sun was high on the Roman sky, today's temperature was nearly freezing.

Still, around 40 thousand pilgrims stood in the cold in the Square to listen to the first Christmas catechesis of Pope Francis.

Source: Radio Vaticana