Pope Francis rang in his first Christmas at the Vatican with a Christmas Eve Mass preaching a message of love and forgiveness.

He called on the throngs gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday to cast aside hatred.

The festivities began on Saturday, with the Pope’s Christmas message to the Curia. He urged the church’s governing body to avoid gossip and to focus on service.

And then he practiced what he preached, spending three hours at a local hospital bringing Christmas cheer to sick children.