Pope condemns human 'hunger for wealth and power' at Christmas Eve Mass

Pope Francis has condemned quality "hunger for wealthiness and power" astatine Christmas Eve Mass successful the Vatican, seemingly referring to the warfare successful Ukraine and different conflicts.

"How galore wars person we seen!" helium said, adding that the main victims were "the anemic and the vulnerable".

"I deliberation supra each of the children devoured by war, poorness and injustice," the pontiff added.

He was addressing worshippers astatine St Peter's Basilica successful Vatican City.

Francis, 86, entered the religion successful a wheelchair, and sat astatine the tract of the altar for astir of the Mass connected Saturday evening.

"While animals provender successful their stalls, men and women successful our world, successful their hunger for wealthiness and power, devour adjacent their neighbours, their mothers and sisters," helium said.

He did not specifically notation the Russian-Ukraine warfare during the service.

During the aboriginal stages of Russia's full-scale penetration launched connected 24 February, the Argentine pontiff was wide criticised successful Ukraine for making what galore Ukrainians saw arsenic cautious comments, without blaming Russia directly.

In June, helium suggested that the warfare was "somehow either provoked oregon not prevented".

But the Pope aboriginal denounced what helium described arsenic atrocities committed by Russian troops.

On Sunday, Francis is owed to present his accepted Urbi et Orbi (to the metropolis and the world) blessing and connection from St Peter's Basilica's balcony to Catholics successful the quadrate beneath and astir the world.