An Italian bishop who told a congregation packed with children that Father Christmas does not exist has sparked a barrage of criticism and forced an apology from the Church.
Antonio Stagliano shocked young worshippers at a family service at the Santissimo Salvatore church in Noto, southern Italy, by claiming: “Santa Claus does not exist”.
“I would add that the red colour of his coat was chosen by Coca-Cola for advertising purposes,” Stagliano said, claiming that the soft drinks company “uses the image to depict itself as an emblem of healthy values”.
After his statement, the pews were full of “speechless children and bewildered parents”, Corriere della Sera reported, and a swift statement from the local diocesan spokesman arrived shortly after.
“First of all, in the name of the bishop, I express my regret for this declaration which has generated disappointment in the smallest children,” said Don Alessandro Paolino.
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The apology was too late to stop a storm of protest on social media, with one cartoon showing Santa Claus telling a small child “God doesn’t exist”, and another critic claiming, “let’s now talk about the son of the virgin and the holy spirit who walked on water”.
Undeterred, Stagliano claimed he was trying to get children to focus on the religious origin of Father Christmas, who is inspired by Saint Nicolas, a third-century bishop in Turkey who stood outside the house of three poor sisters and threw gold coins through their window, landing in stockings they had hung up to dry. Another version has him dropping the gold down the chimney.
Saint Nicholas’s name evolved in Holland into Sinterklaas as his legend inspired a tradition of gift-giving in Europe before the 1930s, when Coca-Cola dressed him in a red and white outfit matching the company’s colours for its advertising.
“I said that Father Christmas is not a historical figure like St Nicholas,” said the bishop. “If Santa is St Nicholas, children will be more open to the idea of helping each other, to the idea of solidarity that comes from giving gifts to poorer children.”
“With all due respect for Coca-Cola, which invented Father Christmas, the duty of a bishop is to discuss evangelical charity,” he added.
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“In any case, kids know Father Christmas is their dad or uncle, so I have not shattered any dreams.”
