Pope laments selfishness, harm to environment in Xmas homily

Pope Benedict XVI has used his Christmas homily to speak out against selfishness and the degradation of the environment as he celebrated midnight mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others – for his neighbour, for the poor, for God,” he said, recalling the story of Christ’s birth, when “there was no room in the inn” for the baby Jesus.


…Recalling Christmas homilies of the fourth-century Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, who lamented a “universe torn and disfigured by sin,” Pope Benedict also spoke of the environment.

“What would he say if he could see the state of the world today, through the abuse of energy and its selfish and reckless exploitation?” he asked.

ABC (Australia)