Vatican City, Jan 3, 2016 / 12:03 pm
Pope Francis lead the first Marian prayer of the new year with swarms of pilgrims gathered at the Vatican Sunday, urging an openness to Jesus in our hearts so that evil won't prevail in our lives.
Speaking to a packed St. Peter's square Jan. 3, the Pope reflected on the day's reading from the first chapter of St. John's Gospel where "the Word" was "made flesh and dwelt among us."
But despite the reality of Christ's presence on earth, St. John "does not hide the dramatic nature of the Incarnation of the Son of God" – since the "gift of the love of God is matched with the non-reception on the part of men," the Pope said.
"The Word is the light, and yet men have preferred the darkness; the Word came unto His own, but they did not receive Him; they closed the door in the face of the Son of God," Pope Francis said.