In his first Christmas as pontiff, Pope Leone XIV is calling on the faithful to steer away from consumer excess and rediscover the heart of the holiday through simplicity and concrete acts of generosity. In a message published in the magazine Piazza San Pietro, edited by Father Enzo Fortunato, the Pope warns against what he calls “addictive shopping” and urges believers to open their homes to those in need, whether a struggling family or someone spending the holiday alone.

Leone XIV also highlights the importance of living a Christian witness that is humble, sincere and rooted in prayer and community life, a path he believes can help young people encounter Christ. He points to the example of St. John Henry Newman, recently declared a Doctor of the Church, as a figure capable of offering light in the face of modern nihilism and of inspiring a culture of peace.