Pope mentions those who “consume their neighbors” in Christmas Eve Mass

Pope Francis seems to have made a veiled reference to the war in Ukraine in his Christmas Eve Mass. He said that some have such a hunger for wealth and power that they seek to “consume even their neighbors”

The Guardian reported this. 

Pope Francis warned during his solemn Christmas speech: the hunger for wealth and power is such that some want to “consume even their neighbors”, probably referring to the war in Ukraine.

The Pope built his speech around the phenomenon of greed and overconsumption.  He asked people to move beyond consumerism during the holidays, rediscover the meaning of Christmas and remember those suffering from war and poverty.

“Men and women in our world, in their hunger for wealth and power, consume even their neighbors, their brothers and sisters. How many wars have we seen! And in how many places, even today, are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt!” Pope Francis said.