Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass, lauds Jesus' 'humble' start

 
Pope Francis lauded Jesus' humble beginning as a poor and vulnerable baby as he celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass as pontiff on Tuesday in St. Peter's Basilica.               

"You are immense, and you made yourself small; you are rich, and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you made yourself vulnerable," Francis said of Jesus as he delivered his homily in the basilica, packed with faithful.                

Francis has dedicated much of his nine-month-old papacy to drawing attention to the plight of the poor, of children, and other vulnerable members of society.
          
He noted that the first to receive news of Jesus' birth were shepherds, who in society were considered "among the last, the outcast."         

Francis, who turned 77 a week ago, walked briskly up the main aisle of the basilica for the ceremony, which began two and a half hours before midnight (2300GMT) on Tuesday.            

The Argentine-born pope has also encouraged his flock to be a joyful church, and he called Jesus "the light who brightens the darkness."           

In the world's history and our own personal history, Francis said, "there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows."       

Francis has applied this same vision to the heart of the Vatican's own working, saying in past remarks there is no place for personal ambition in the clerical hierarchy.                      

Rather, he has insisted, the Catholic church must be one of service to those in need.            

At the Vatican, the basilica ceremony is the pope's only public Mass for Christmas.       

On Wednesday, Christmas Day, Francis will deliver his Christmas message, meant for the world, from the basilica's central balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. 


AP