A few people gather outside St. Peter s Square during the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Vatican December. 24. The Mass was not open to the general public and began at 7:30 p.m. local time so that the limited number of attendees could return home in time to observe Italy s 10 p.m. curfew. (CNS photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Vatican City The birth of Christ is a gift from God that brings people hope and courage in troubled times, Pope Francis said Christmas Eve. Underlying all our strengths and weaknesses, stronger than all our past hurts and failures or our fears and concerns about the future, there is this great truth, the pope said in his homily Dec. 24 as he celebrated the nighttime liturgy.