The Pope is just, after many many centuries of writings about this, getting around to stating the obvious: Trying to put (the alleged) Jesus’ birthday on Dec 25 has no historical merit.

The holiday in Roman world celebrated during the time of the winter solstice was Saturnalia. Putting Jesus’ birthday during this time was clearly a move by the 4th century newly-Christianized Emperors to Christianize a then current popular holiday.

And the last 16 centuries has seen a non-stop flow of pagan religious themes continually plastered over the old Saturnalia.

This is not “news”.