On Christmas, Pope, Francis urges openness to God

Vatican City: Pope Francis on Tuesday urged people to shun pride and selfishness and open up their hearts to God and their fellow man.
Francis delivered a short homily that was as simple as his white vestments: Man can choose between darkness and light.
Francis, who concelebrated the Mass with more than 300 cardinals, bishops and priests, urged people not to be afraid to reach out to God.
“Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our peace,” he said.
A new era
Pilgrims came from all over the world for the Mass and some said it was because they felt Francis had brought a breath of fresh air to the Church.
“(He) is bringing a new era into the Church, a Church that is focusing much more on the poor and that is more austere, more lively, a Church that cares about everyone in the world,” said Dolores Di Benedetto, from the Pope’s homeland, Argentina.
Giacchino Sabello, an Italian, said he had not been to Midnight Mass in St Peter’s but now wanted to get a first-hand look at the new Pope.
“Now I am coming from quite far away, mainly because I thought it would be very nice to hear the words of this Pope close up and to see how the people are overwhelmed by him,” Sabello said.
Christmas Eve began a hectic period for the 77-year-old pope, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.
On Wednesday at noon (1100 GMT/0600 ET), he will deliver the second “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and blessing of his pontificate. The first was last Easter.
On December 31, he celebrates a year-end Mass of thanksgiving inside the basilica and the next days preside at a New Year’s Mass to mark the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace.
On January 6, he will celebrate a Mass in the square on the day the Church marks the feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the magi to the baby Jesus.