Pope Benedict XVI encouraged those attending and listening to the Christmas Eve Services on Monday to find time for God in their lives."...man is so preoccupied with himself he has such urgent need of all space and all the time for his own things that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God...the Child of Bethlehem directs our gaze towards all children who suffer and are abused in the world, the born and the unborn..."
Pope Benedict blessed the crowd that gathered for the services, as the choir sang, the Pope spread incense on the alter with the traditional wish "Pax Vobis" (Peace be with you) the faithful responded "El cum spiritu tuo" (And also be with you)
At noon today, the Pope delivered the traditional Christmas Day message Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) from the Balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to a crowd that was expected to be in the tens of thousands and issue Christmas greetings to the world.
