German priest finds newborn baby in manger

A newborn baby has been named after Peter by nurses in Germany after he was discovered abandoned in the manger of a church nativity scene in a small village.

The infant was just hours old when he was discovered in the mock-up crib of the Catholic church of St Peter and St Paul in the village of Poettmes in southern Germany. 'I was in the church shortly after midday to pray and I heard the baby crying,' said Father Thomas Rein, the parish priest.

A small red carpet that is usually used by the priest to kneel on during services was laid over the crib in an attempt to keep the baby warm.



'We prepared the crib in the pre-Christmas period so children could lay fresh straw in it and ponder on the meaning of Jesus and Lo! There really was a Jesus-child in it!' he said excitedly. 'His cries saved his little life; I would not have noticed him otherwise.'

There was little time for celebrating; the minister called the emergency services after taking the boy into his house next to the church to keep him warm. He went on: 'It was only 12C in the church. There were fears that he could have hypothermia.' The boy was taken to the Neuburger Paediatric Clinic where he is making good progress.

Later the boy’s 38-year-old Romanian mother was found. She said she gave him up because she was in a ‘difficult personal situation’ but had hoped someone would find him.