Dec 25, 2019

Pope Francis at Christmas Eve mass: God loves even the worst of us

 Pope delivers his homily during the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2019 in Vatican City, Vatican.

Pope delivers his homily during the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Vatican. Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Pope Francis delivered a message to the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics during Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican: "Christmas reminds us that God continues to love us all, even the worst of us."

The big picture: The BBC notes the Pope "alluded to the clerical abuse" and "financial scandals" when he said: "Whatever goes wrong in our lives, whatever doesn't work in the Church, whatever problems there are in the world, will no longer serve as an excuse ."

Pope Francis (R) leads a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24
Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
 Pope Francis (2nd L) leads a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ
Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
 Pope Francis (Front) leads a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2019, at St Peter's basilica in Vatican City, Vatican.
Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Pope Francis leads a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2019, at St Peter's basilica in Vatican City, Vatican.
Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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