Vatican City, Dec 24, 2020 / 13:00 pm
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis said that the poverty of Christ's birth in a stable contains an important lesson for today.
"That manger, poor in everything yet rich in love, teaches that true nourishment in life comes from letting ourselves be loved by God and loving others in turn," Pope Francis said Dec. 24.
"God always loves us with a greater love than we have for ourselves. ... Only the love of Jesus can transform our lives, heal our deepest hurts and set us free from the vicious circles of disappointment, anger and constant complaint," the pope said in St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis offered "Midnight Mass" early this year due to Italy's national curfew at 10 p.m. The country has entered into a lockdown for the Christmas season in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus.