Pope Francis in his
general audience on Wednesday said that Bethlehem was chosen as
Jesus's birthplace because it's "not a capital, and therefore
preferred by divine providence, which likes to act through the
small and the humble".
He said that, in its simplicity, the Christmas crib sends a
message of hope.
"That's why it's important to look at the Christmas crib, to
stop a bit and see how much hope there is in these people," Pope
Francis said.