Pope Francis's Christmas message at St. Peter's Basilica Powerful~ Diane

Words spoken to the faithful at St. Peter's Basilica Pope Francis's first Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, in which the pontiff once again preached the importance of acceptance and humility, qualities he has continually demonstrated in his short time as head of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis spoke “You are immense, and you made yourself small, you are rich, and you made yourself poor, you are all powerful and you made yourself vulnerable,” Francis said of Jesus as he delivered his homily.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light," Francis began, quoting from Isaiah, a book of the Bible that includes prophesies foretelling the birth of Jesus.

Pope Francis offered a lesson of light and love during Christmas Eve midnight Mass.

Jesus brought light and grace to the world, and that grace "made salvation possible for the whole human race," Francis said, choosing to highlight a scripture from the biblical book of Titus.
While Jesus embodied light and love, Francis said, those who hate walk in "darkness."



"If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us, whoever hates his brother is in the darkness’” and `”does not know the way to go, because the darkness has blinded his eyes," the pontiff said.