“[T]oday is also a day to pray for [the] Church, because
of so much sterility within the people of God. A sterility arising from
egoism, from power … when the Church believes she can do everything, that she
can take charge of the consciences of the people, walk along the road of the
Pharisees, of the Sadducees, along the road of hypocrisy, yes, the Church is
sterile. Let’s pray. That this Christmas our Church may be open to the gift of
God, that she may allow herself to be surprised by the Holy Spirit and be a
Church that gives birth, a mother Church. Many times I think that in some
places the Church is more like an entrepreneur than a mother.”
Pope Francis
