bbc.com
Pope Francis has ushered in Christmas by saying God loves everyone – “even the worst of us”.
He was speaking to thousands of people during Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
“You may have mistaken ideas, you may have made a complete mess of things… but the Lord continues to love you,” the Argentine pontiff said.
This will be interpreted by some as a reference to Church scandals, including sex abuse, our correspondent says.
Pope Francis will return to St Peter’s Basilica later on Christmas Day to deliver the traditional papal message to the world.
Among those taking part in the Mass were children chosen from countries including Venezuela, Iraq and Uganda.
The BBC’s Rome correspondent Mark Lowen says this is a clear gesture from the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics who often focuses on the plight of migrants and victims of war, as well as on extending the reach of the Church to its periphery.
What did the Pope say?
“Christmas reminds us that God continues to love us all, even the worst of us. To me, to you, to each of us, he says today: ‘I love you and I will always love you, for you are precious in my eyes,'” the 83-year-old pontiff said.
“God does not love you because you think and act the right way. He loves you, plain and simple. His love is unconditional; it does not depend on you.”