Jorge Mario Bergoglio, more famously known as Pope Francis, is calling on Christians to spend less on Christmas this year and send money to the people of Ukraine instead.
“There is so much suffering in Ukraine, so much, so much!” he told the crowds at the Vatican on Wednesday.
“I would like to draw some attention to the coming Christmas, even the parties,” the pope continued. “It’s nice to celebrate Christmas, to have parties… but let’s lower the level of Christmas spending a bit.”
The pope then suggested that people could send the money they saved by not having parties or buying gifts to those suffering in the war-ridden lands of Ukraine. In other words, don’t participate in the commercial side of the holiday.
“Let’s have a humbler Christmas, with more humble gifts,” Francis said. “We send what we save to the Ukrainian people, who are in need, who suffer so much.”
“They are hungry, they feel the cold and many die because there are no doctors or nurses at hand,” he added, “Let us not forget: a Christmas, yes; at peace with the Lord, yes, but with Ukrainians in our hearts. And let’s make that concrete gesture for them.”
Watch:
???? VIDEO | Pope Francis calls for a "more humble" Christmas to help Ukraine. ???????? https://t.co/gqDpIdNN5V pic.twitter.com/MCNWGUdPOc
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 14, 2022
In September, Francis also urged countries to prove Ukraine with weapons, as he explained that self-defense when faced with aggressions is “not only lawful, but also an expression of love of country.”
While I am all for helping those in need, I do wonder what is being done with the billions already being sent over to Ukraine…
As one Twitter user asked, “Why don’t they get the billions of dollars we sent them already? Who’s getting the money and where is it being funneled to? And last I checked the Ukrainian government was arresting priests so I don’t support that government.”
Great question, Slavic Gypsy. Great question.
Why don't they get the billions of dollars we sent them already? Who's getting the money and where is it being funneled to? And last I checked the Ukrainian government was arresting priests so I don't support that government
— Slavic Gypsy (@DEPoland) December 14, 2022
Not to mention, earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy announced a ban on the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Reporter Greg Price tweeted, “Zelensky announces a decree banning religious organizations and churches in Ukraine with “ties to Russia.” His government has also been raiding Ukrainian Orthodox churches and arresting priests.”
Zelensky states in a video announcement, “The NSDC instructed the government to submit to the Verkhovna Rada a bill on the impossibility of the activities of religious organizations affiliated with the centers of influence in the Russian Federation in Ukraine.”
Zelensky announces a decree banning religious organizations and churches in Ukraine with “ties to Russia.”
His government has also been raiding Ukrainian Orthodox churches and arresting priests.
https://t.co/djTMYRp0ak— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 2, 2022
“In addition, the state Service for Ethnopolitics and freedom of Conscience has been instructed to ensure the religious studies examination of the Statute on the Management of the UOC for the presence of a church-canonical with connection with the Moscow Patriarchate and, if necessary, apply the measures provided for by law,” he said.
Zelensky added, ”It is necessary to create such conditions in which any figures dependent on the aggressor country will not be able to manipulate Ukrainians and weaken Ukraine from within”.
Why would Christians send him more money as he shuts down churches? It doesn’t make sense if you ask me.
