Pope Francis urges 'tenderness' as millions celebrate Christmas

[Omaha Steve]

Source: hindustantimes.com

Pope Francis led Christmas Eve mass in the Vatican on Wednesday calling for "tenderness" and "warmth" after a violence-plagued year as millions of Christians began marking the holiday.

The Argentine pontiff's brief homily was replete with Gospel references in his Christmas Eve mass, broadcast live in 3D for the first time.

"Do we have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to us?" the pope asked in Saint Peter's Basilica, filled with some 5,000 worshippers.

"Or do we prefer impersonal solutions, perhaps effective but devoid of the warmth of the Gospel? How much the world needs tenderness today!" he said.

FULL story at link.



Pope Francis kisses the unveiled baby Jesus during a Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's Basilica to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ in Vatican. (AFP Photo) - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pope-francis-urges-tenderness-as-millions-celebrate-christmas/article1-1300169.aspx#sthash.ow4DKP5H.dpuf

Read more: http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pope-francis-urges-tenderness-as-millions-celebrate-christmas/article1-1300169.aspx

[freshwest]

1. Couldn't forget this when I saw this thread:

[Lodestar]

2. Amen

[Chemisse]

3. This man is a real religious leader.

I'm not Catholic - in fact not even Christian - but I adore this pope. He truly seems like a holy man.

[Thinkingabout]

4. To have compassion for those around us is easy, you are rewarded right away.

We can't change the past but we can wake up with this day the best day of our lives. Pope Francis is living by example, his compassion is needed, he is good.

[TexasProgresive]

5. A link to a transcript of the prepared homily

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20141224_omelia-natale.html
On thing to note, Pope Francis is famous for ad libbing, so this may not be exactly the same as what he said.

On this holy night, while we contemplate the Infant Jesus just born and placed in the manger, we are invited to reflect. How do we welcome the tenderness of God? Do I allow myself to be taken up by God, to be embraced by him, or do I prevent him from drawing close? “But I am searching for the Lord” – we could respond. Nevertheless, what is most important is not seeking him, but rather allowing him to seek me, find me and caress me with tenderness. The question put to us simply by the Infant’s presence is: do I allow God to love me?

More so, do we have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to us, or do we prefer impersonal solutions, perhaps effective but devoid of the warmth of the Gospel? How much the world needs tenderness today! The patience of God, the closeness of God, the tenderness of God.

The Christian response cannot be different from God’s response to our smallness. Life must be met with goodness, with meekness. When we realize that God is in love with our smallness, that he made himself small in order to better encounter us, we cannot help but open our hearts to him, and beseech him: “Lord, help me to be like you, give me the grace of tenderness in the most difficult circumstances of life, give me the grace of closeness in the face of every need, of meekness in every conflict”.