Make time for the needy, pope urges

Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early today by celebrating midnight Mass in St. 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 neighbor, for the poor, for God,” he said.

Earlier, as the Mass began, Benedict blessed the crowd of pilgrims, Romans and tourists as he walked in a procession up the main aisle to the central altar, which was decorated with red poinsettias.

For those unable to get into the midnight service, giant screens were set up in St. Peter’s Square, which was made festive with a towering twinkling Christmas tree and, next to it, the Vatican’s life-sized Nativity scene.

Officials unveiled the Nativity set Monday, revealing the statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents, in a house-like structure.

This year, the scene of Jesus’ birth was portrayed in a re-creation of Joseph’s Nazareth home rather than the traditional manger in a barn in Bethlehem. Officials at the unveiling said the shift underscored the idea that Jesus was born not just in a single place, but everywhere and for everyone.

Hours before midnight Mass, Benedict briefly appeared at his studio window to light a candle as a symbol of peace, blessing the crowd with the light before leaving it on the sill.