Don't let Church failings distance you from God, Pope says on Christmas Eve

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis led the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas on Tuesday, urging them not to let the Church's failings lead them away from accepting God's love.

Francis celebrated a solemn Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for thousands of people as hundreds of others watched on large screens outside.

As is customary on Christmas Eve, the 83-year-old pope weaved his sermon around the spiritual and personal significance of the night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

"Christmas reminds us that God continues to love us all, even the worst of us," Francis, presiding at ...