Pope Laments Christmas Consumerism
By FRANCES D'EMILIO

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday criticized "materialistic" ways of celebrating Christmas, pressing the Vatican's campaign against unbridled consumerism.

His brief comments, delivered from the window of his private studio to pilgrims below in St. Peter's Square, built on his dismay that ever younger boys and girls are caught up in consumer pursuits.

"The way of living out, and perceiving, Christmas unfortunately quite often suffers from a materialistic mentality," Benedict said. the rest