The Pope has revealed that there are a few irregularities between the nativity scene we’ve come to love and the actual birth of Jesus Christ. Not to mention the other Christmas myths he’s just debunked…
Now, we have a funny feeling that Pope Benedict XVI wasn’t actually there to check for himself, but according to the holiest man on the planet, the presence of animals like cattle and donkeys at the birth of Christ is nothing more than a myth.
“There is no mention of animals in the Gospels,” writes Pope Benedict in the last volume of his biography on Jesus. He believes that the inclusion of various farm animals at the birth of Christ may have come from pre-Christian traditions.
That being said, the Pope doesn’t think people will take his scepticism too seriously, “No one will give up the oxen and the donkey in their Nativity scenes”.
Benedict also says in his new book that the popular belief angels sang to the shepherds to proclaim Jesus’ birth is also is not true. He says the myth brought about present day carolling, but there’s no actual ‘evidence’ behind it…
The Pope’s book called ‘Jesus of Nazareth – The Infancy Narratives’ follows the life of Jesus up until the age of 12 and it’s set to be published around the world in nine different languages. It actually goes on sale today, so if you’re looking for something to get your devoutly Christian grandmother this Christmas then look no further.
