Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017. Everything that night became a source of hope.”Noting that Mary and Joseph arrived in a land “where there was no place for them,” Francis drew parallels to contemporary time. “So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary,” he said in his homily. “Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity,” Francis said. At mid-day Monday, tradition calls for Francis to deliver the Christmas Day message “urbi et orbi” - Latin for “to the city and to the world” - from the central loggia of the basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Source: Washington Post December 24, 2017 20:20 UTC