In his Christmas message, he offered special greetings to “our soldiers at the front,” to civilians and soldiers who have been wounded and to all those mourning the loss of loved ones.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the pope’s message inviting people to pay less attention to presents and more to prayer,.

‘Why is the manger so important? Because it is the sign, and not by chance, of Christ’s coming into this world. It is how he announces his coming.’

A Reflection for the Third Day in the Octave of Christmas, by Rachel Lu

A Reflection for the Nativity of the Lord, by Sam Sawyer, S.J.

A Reflection for the Second Day in the Octave of Christmas, by Michael Simone, S.J.