Christians must await a visit from God, which always comes, otherwise they are "closed" and are living "in storage", Pope Francis told Catholics on Monday.
"If a Christian is not in eager anticipation of a meeting with God, they are a closed Christian, spending their life in storage, " Francis said in a homily as he celebrated mass at the Vatican hotel, where he lives.
Francis urged Catholics to distinguish the true consolation and joy that a visit from the Lord brings from the apparent consolation offered by "false prophets".
"We must wait for God's visit...he will always make us feel his presence, bringing spiritual consolation and filling us with joy," the pontiff said.
"Each liberation and act of redemption by God is a visit," he explained.
Each of these visits brings joy and a state of "consolation" that endures in the spiritual life of every Christian and whose highest level brings peace, Francis said.
"We must recognise (God's) consolation because there are false prophets who appear to console us but in fact are tricking us," he said.
"The Lord's consolation reaches you inside and moves you, it gives you more charity, faith and hope and makes you weep for your sins."
"True consolation is not entertainment and its highest level is peace," Francis concluded.
