During a recent interview with an Italian newspaper, Pope Francis said Christmas is all about hope and tenderness.

L’Osservatore Romano is reporting on the interview Pope Francis had with Andrea Tornielli of the Italian newspaper, La Stampa, in which he reflected on Christmas with his usual simplicity.

“It is the encounter with Jesus”, the Pope said, “God has always sought out his people, led them, looked after them and promised to always be close to them. The Book of Deuteronomy says that God walks with us; he takes us by the hand like a father does with his child. This is a beautiful thing. Christmas is God’s meeting with his people. It is also a consolation, a mystery of consolation. Many times after the midnight mass I have spent an hour or so alone in the chapel before celebrating the dawn mass. I experienced a profound feeling of consolation and peace. I remember one night of prayer after a mass in the Astalli residence for refugees in Rome, it was Christmas 1974 I think. For me Christmas has always been about this; contemplating the visit of God to his people.”

He went to say that Christmas “speaks to us about tenderness and hope,” and is an invitation to all Christians not to become “a cold Church that doesn’t know where it’s going, that is tied up in ideologies, in worldly attitudes.”

He also attempted to persuade those who try to trivialize the holy celebration of Christmas.

“When one doesn’t have the capacity, or there is a human situation that doesn’t permit you to understand this joy, you live the feast with a worldly cheer. But between the profound joy and mundane cheerfulness there is a difference.”

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