Vatican City, Dec 19, 2016 / 10:22 am
Young Catholics can be a force for joy and peace, Pope Francis told an audience with Catholic Action on Monday.
"Proclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, you become apostles of the joy of the Gospel. And joy is contagious," he told members of Catholic Action who had gathered in Vatican City's Consistory Hall to wish the pontiff a Merry Christmas.
Reflecting on the Nativity of Jesus Christ, he said: "The birth of Jesus is announced as a great joy, originating from the discovery that God loves us and, through the birth of Jesus, made Himself close to us to save us. We are beloved by God. What a wonderful thing!"
"When we are a little sad, when it seems that everything is going wrong, when a friend disappoints us – or rather, when we disappoint ourselves – let us think 'God loves me', 'God never abandons me'," the Pope said Dec. 19.