2018-12-25 BBC

Pope Francis condemns world of materialism and poverty

Pope Francis has called on people in developed countries to live a simpler and less materialistic life.

He alsocondemned the huge divide between the world's rich and poor, saying Jesus'sbirth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning oflife.

He spokeout while leading a service in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican for thetraditional Christmas Eve Mass.

It is the82-year-old's sixth Christmas as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

In hishomily, Pope Francis said the birth of Christ pointed to a new way to live"not by devouring and hoarding, but by sharing and giving".

Hecontinued: "Let us ask ourselves: Do I really need all these materialobjects and complicated recipes for living? Can I manage without all theseunnecessary extras and live a life of greater simplicity?

"Formany people, life's meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess ofmaterial objects. An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today,when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without thedaily bread needed to survive."

OnChristmas Day on Tuesday, the Pope will deliver his "Urbi et Orbi"(to the city and the world) message from the balcony of St Peter's.

Francis,the first Pope from Latin America, has made highlighting the plight of the poora key theme of his papacy.

During Christmas Day Mass in 2016hewarned that the true meaning of Christmas was being drowned out by materialism.

His predecessor Pope Benedict made a similar point in 2011.