Pope Francis met with participants and organizers of the Vatican's Christmas Contest—a music competition in which young musicians from 16-35 compete to perform at the Vatican's annual Christmas concert.
The Pope wished them the best with their work, but told them not to lose sight of Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
POPE FRANCIS
Don't seek to be like the big “stars” of show business. Don't follow the trends and designs of success. Don't recite the clichés of a false and corny Christmas that has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and its significance for humanity today.
The contest is organized by the Pontifical Foundation Gravissimum Educationis, which supports Catholic education worldwide.
POPE FRANCIS
Music humanizes, and to educate means essentially to humanize. How badly we need today to become more human. That's why God made Himself man, to share this path with us.
In past years, the Vatican Christmas concert has featured names as big as as Patti Smith, Lionel Richie, and Bonnie Tyler.
JM
