Cdare remains of Authentic Christmasthe one made of spirituality and faith, when Santa Claus becomes the protagonist? There reflection launched by Cardinal Angelo Comastri during the Vigil Massbroadcast live from Tg1has sparked a heated debate on social media. His words, spoken from St. Peter’s Square, were provocative a wave of mixed reactionsexposing the tension between Christian tradition and the popular figure of the “old man with the white beard”.
Cardinal Comastri’s words on Santa Claus and Baby Jesus
During the ceremony of the opening of the Holy DoorCardinal Comastri has quoted the journalist Eugenio Scalfaria well-known non-believer, to underline the contrast between Jesus and Santa Claus: «Every time Christmas approaches I feel a certain pain because we talk very little about Jesus, Santa Claus has taken over Jesus». For the cardinal, contact Santa Claus with a letter is equivalent to writing to “no one”a practice that distracts from the original meaning of Christmas: «It is very different to say “Dear Baby Jesus…”».
Words that certainly were not spoken lightly. In fact, they are part of a broader discussion on secularization of religious holidays and on the loss of their spiritual value. But the reactions could only be mixed.
Social reactions
The cardinal’s statements found fertile ground on social networks, quickly becoming viral. On the one hand, some users expressed solidarity with the prelate, underlining the importance of bringing Jesus back to the center of Christmas. On the other, there was no shortage of fierce criticismjudging Comastri’s comment as “a useless attack” on a figure linked to childhood and to the imagination.
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