Pope: Denying help to poor is rejecting GodPope Leo XIV carrying the statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the first Christmas mass of his pontificate at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. VATICAN CITY – The story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself, Pope Leo XIV said in a Christmas Eve sermon. “On Earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. Leo, the first US-born pope, is celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world’s cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis. Meanwhile, in his first Christmas message on Thursday, Pope Leo condemned the “senselessness” of war and the “open wounds” it leaves behind.

Source: Philippine Star December 25, 2025 16:01 UTC