Pope Francis met with the highest ranking members of the Roman Curia to exchange Christmas greeting in the Hall of Blessing above the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica.
He was welcomed by Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who thanked the Pope for his work and commented on the significance of the trips he made in 2021 to Iraq, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Greece.
In his address, Pope Francis reflected on humility as the central message of Christmas. And warned against a spiritual rigidity formed by pride.
POPE FRANCIS
The humble give life, attract others and push onwards towards the unknown that lies ahead. The proud, on the other hand, simply repeat, grow rigid and enclose themselves in that repetition, feeling certain about what they know and fearful of anything new because they cannot control it.
He went on to explain that a lack of humility can result in clericalism: a common temptation for members of the Curia.
POPE FRANCIS
The clericalism that, as a temptation, spreads each day in our midst, makes us think of a God who speaks only to some, while the others must only listen and obey.
The Pope also urged them to undertake in earnest the mission of the upcoming Synod, which began its first preparatory phase in October, to consider the input of all Catholics in determining how to manage the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
The Curia is not merely a logistical and bureaucratic instrument for meeting the needs of the universal Church, but the first body called to bear witness. Precisely for this reason, it grows in prestige and effectiveness when it embraces firsthand the challenges of the synodal conversion to which it is also called. The organization that we must adopt is not that of a business, but evangelical in nature.
The Pope also gave them three books as Christmas gifts: A lesson on pastorality, an analysis of the secondary characters on the bible, and a reflection on the harms of gossip.
Together, they prayed a Hail Mary before Pope Francis greeted members of the Curia individually to wish them a merry Christmas.
JM
