From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on a brilliantly sunny and warm Dec. 25, the pope prayed that Emmanuel, God with us, would bring light “to all the suffering members of our human family.”
“May he soften our often stony and self-centered hearts and make them channels of his love,” the pope said before giving his Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).
According to the Vatican police, there were about 55,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the blessing.