VATICAN CITY, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, urging people to "see through the superficial glitter" of the season.
In his homily, the 84-year-old pontiff told the thousands of faithful in attendance the birth of Jesus was an epiphany revealing "God is pure goodness." In a translation provided by the Vatican, the spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics called on people to "strip away our fixation on what is material, on what can be measured and grasped."
"Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God's humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity. Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light."
The BBC noted the pope, because of his physical infirmities, made his way down the aisle on a gilded, moving platform. The British network that before celebrating mass Benedict lit a candle in his window as a symbol of peace.
