Feeling sad, disappointed or ashamed of oneself sometimes is normal and even can lead to conversion, but when people wallow in their sadness it becomes a dangerous vice, Pope Francis said.
"We all go through ordeals that generate sorrow in us, because life
Wrath is a "dark vice" that destroys relationships, focuses all blame on others and only worsens over time, Pope Francis said.
"It is capable of depriving us of sleep, of barring the way to reason and thought" because wrath completely clouds thinking clearly
It is easy to believe one is the master of everything one owns, Pope Francis said, but often the opposite happens and one's possessions "take possession of us."
"This is what misers do not understand. They could have been a source of blessing
Pornography and lust undermine and rob people from experiencing God's gift of love, Pope Francis said.
"Sexual pleasure, which is a gift from God, is undermined by pornography: satisfaction without relationship that can generate forms of addiction," the pope said Jan. 17 at
One of the most dangerous vices is gluttony, turning people who are meant to be custodians of creation into mere consumers and even exploiters and predators, Pope Francis said.
"The sin of those who succumb before a piece of cake, all things considered,
Temptation -- a constant in spiritual life -- is an opportunity for Christians to remember that Jesus is close to them, supports them and lifts them up when they fall, Pope Francis said.
"We all have experienced this: that a bad thought comes
Exchanging Christmas gifts and organizing holiday parties are all well and good, but Christians should contemplate the scene of Jesus' birth to recover what is truly important during the Christmas season, Pope Francis said.
The Christmas season is a reminder to Christians that despite hardships, God chose to join himself to humanity and still remains by its side, Pope Francis said.
"Christmas is a reminder that God loves us and wants to be with us," the pope
Christians must be open to the Word of God and to welcoming and serving others, Pope Francis said.
"'Be open,' Jesus says to every believer and to his church: be open because the Gospel message needs you to witness to it and proclaim
Christians must rely more on the Holy Spirit than on their own plans and strategies if they hope to fulfill their mission to share the good news of God's love and of salvation in Christ, Pope Francis said at his weekly general