German bishop warns against nationalism in Christmas sermon

The head of Germany's Catholic bishops on Thursday warned against rising nationalism in his Christmas sermon, saying the interconnected nature of the modern world makes isolation impossible.

"Where does this new selfish nationalism, with its slogan of 'us first,' ultimately lead?" Bishop Georg Bätzing asked in the Limburg Cathedral, according to the pre-distributed text of his sermon.

Bätzing described the Christmas message of God as a defenceless child as a "real alternative to the power games of the mighty."

"I admit, this idea has always personally fascinated me and convinced me to believe," the 64-year-old said. "The God to whom Christians profess their faith is so free that he relinquishes all divine power."

Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus Christ, who, according to their faith, came to Earth as an ordinary human being.