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Covid: Christmas will bring 'pain' but there is hope for the future - Welby

The cancellation of Christmas plans for millions of people across the UK will bring "intense pain" but there is "hope" for the future, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said.

Justin Welby told the BBC he had spent Christmases alone and had "no illusions about how dark it feels".

"But as the vaccine comes in, things will change," the archbishop said.

He urged people to take practical steps to avoid loneliness and plan for proper celebrations in the future.

He also said the elderly and vulnerable should not feel compelled to go to church this Christmas.

Christmas 'not cancelled'

On Saturday, the planned relaxation of Covid rules for Christmas were scrapped for London and parts of south-east and east England and cut to just Christmas Day for the rest of England, Scotland and Wales.

Speaking on The Andrew Marr show, the archbishop acknowledged that for many families this year has been difficult and that many will be feeling lonely.

Asked directly whether Christmas was cancelled, he replied: "No. The celebrations are cancelled - we'll come to those again.

"This is very different to what we hoped for and longed for and it is the most intense pain for a lot of people.

"But it's not cancelled because at the heart of Christmas is Jesus coming into the world, God coming into the world and then coming onto Easter.

"This is a moment of God saying 'I am with you in the mess and there is hope'."

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