(CNN) -- Pope Francis rang in his first Christmas at the Vatican with a Christmas Eve Mass preaching a message of love and forgiveness. "On this night, let us share the joy of the Gospel. God loves us. He so loves us that he gave us his son to be our brother, to be light in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats, 'Do not be afraid,' ... And I, too, repeat, do not be afraid,'" the Pope said. "Our Father is patient. He loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightened the darkness. Our Father forgives always. He is our peace and light."
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The Pope urges faithful to cast aside hatred
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He leads his first Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican
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"God is light and in him there is no darkness at all," the Pope says
Before the Mass, pilgrims gathering in Vatican City told CNN they were excited to celebrate with the @placeholder.