Christmas polluted by consumerism: Pope

Vatican City – Pope Benedict XVI has said that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and has suggested that assembling the Nativity scene in the home is an effective way of teaching the faith to children.

"In the present–day consumer society," the pontiff said, "this period suffers, unfortunately, a sort of commercial 'contamination,' which runs the risk of altering its authentic spirit."

“The authentic spirit of Christmas is characterized by recollection, sobriety, a joy that is not exterior but profound," he noted.

"The manger helps us to contemplate the mystery of God's love who revealed himself in the poverty and simplicity of the Bethlehem cave," he explained.

"The crib can help us, in fact, to understand the secret of the true Christmas, because it speaks of humility and the merciful goodness of Christ, who 'though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor,'" he continued.

“His poverty enriches those who embrace it and Christmas brings joy and peace to those who, as the shepherds, accept in Bethlehem the words of the angel: 'And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger,'" he added.

And, the Pope concluded, this “continues to be a sign also for us, men and women of the 21st century. There is no other Christmas."

In fact, on this occasion there were many children gathered below in St. Peter's Square. Following a Roman custom, they came with images of the Child Jesus for the Holy Father to bless, which they will later place in cribs at home.