In his Christmas message, Pope Francis warns against becoming insensitive to suffering and conflict

Pope Francis held his annual Urbi and orbi (“to the city and the world”) Christmas speech from a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to BBC News, the Pope highlighted the social costs of the COVID-19 pandemic – including loneliness and an increase in domestic violence – as well as ongoing conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Ethiopia and elsewhere.

“Our ability to form social relationships is being severely tested. There is a growing tendency to withdraw, to do everything alone, to stop making an effort to meet others and do things together,” he said. “We continue to witness a growing number of conflicts, crises and disagreements. These seem never-ending and we hardly notice them anymore.”

On Friday evening, Francis celebrated mass in St. Peter's Basilica in front of around 2,000 believers. Last year, only around 200 people were allowed in due to COVID restrictions.

“God does not rise in greatness, but humbles himself in littleness,” the Pope said during his homily. God “makes himself small in the eyes of the world, while we continue to strive for greatness in the eyes of the world, perhaps even in his name.” He urged his congregation to remember that God's love is unconditional and that God is with them even in the seemingly most banal and insignificant moments of their lives.

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