President Higgins has done it again - delivering a Christmas message to the Irish people at home and abroad without mentioning Christ.

He does however elliptically reference the Christmas story and its value in reminding us of the power of hospitality.

"The story of Bethlehem, of the homeless Joseph and Mary anticipating the birth of their child, is at the heart of this holiday and it invites us to reflect on how we relate to the stranger, the vulnerable in our midst," he writes.

"At Christmas we are reminded, not only of how a man and a woman had to leave their familiar surroundings and have their child in a strange place, of how they were joined by unknown shepherds and visitors from faraway lands, but most importantly, of the empowering ethic of hospitality," the President adds.

Last year President Higgins also failed to mention God, Christ or Christianity in his Christmas message.

It dismayed Christians of all denominations.

Msgr Eoin Thynne, Head Chaplain of the Defence Forces, of which President Higgins is Supreme Commander, used his Christmas Eve homily at Windy Arbour Church, to comment on the absence of any reference to the Christian faith by the President.

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In this year's message, President Higgins writes: "Christmas is a season of peace, a time to recall all that can be achieved through reflection, forgiveness and reconciliation."

"I had the great honour of being Ireland's first Head of State to pay a State Visit to our nearest neighbour in every sense, the United Kingdom. It was an immense privilege and pleasure to be thus able to manifest the friendship between our two peoples, who no longer "look at each other with doubtful eyes", but, rather, with the trustful eyes of mutual respect and shared commitments.

Sunday Independent