The deeper purpose of life and the value of the human person are revealed in the figure of the Divine Infant, who is born “in humility,” Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos notes in his Christmas message.

Through his message, he calls on the faithful to rediscover the essence of human existence, the power of love, and the hope that flows from the person of the God-Man. It is not limited to a conventional festive greeting, but constitutes an invitation to peace, joy, and acceptance of the divine presence—elements which, according to Christian teaching, complete human life and strengthen social cohesion.

Placed within a broader reflection on the contemporary human condition, the message seeks to connect the theological significance of the Birth of Christ with the existential and social questions of our time. Through references to peace, humility, unity, and respect for diversity, it aims to offer a framework of meaning in the face of the challenges of the modern world, bringing back to the forefront the timeless question of human identity and value.

The Archbishop’s message in full:

“Beloved brothers and children in the Lord,

‘The Word became flesh, and the Virgin gave birth to God incarnate.’

A new humanity emerged from the humble cave and the poor swaddling clothes of Bethlehem. Humanity came to know the truth: that ‘the true human being… was revealed by the Savior.’ This truth has often been imprinted on the moral horizon of our world—sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, sometimes with reference to its divine source and sometimes through secularized forms.

Contradictions run through history, and multifaceted falsehood—often painful—frequently seems to prevail. Unfortunately, discussions about the alienation of the human person have now become commonplace.

We live within a complex reality, overwhelmed by countless challenges, facing on the one hand negative and threatening conditions and on the other beautiful expectations. Questions about humanity constantly arise, with the central and persistent one remaining: who is the human being?

Let us turn our thoughts to the Infant of Bethlehem, the archetype of humanity entering history. What does He have to tell us?

He is the One who continually reminds us of the angelic hymn of glory, experienced as a source of peace, which we are called to extend ‘on earth’ to all humanity.

It is the voluntary and absolute poverty of the Divine Infant that inspired millions of people throughout history to endure even martyrdom. It offers a radical answer to humanity’s thirst for power, which torments us at every level.

He is the God-Man, the One in whom ‘all things are summed up,’ in whom there is no division, fulfilling the deep desire of existence for the unity of all things. In the unity of Christ there is no confusion; the richness of individual gifts is not lost. The beauty of natural differences and diversity is preserved, as are the sacred power of life and the gift of new life.”