
Pope Francis in Christmas Eve remarks likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel 'there is no room for them on this Earth'.

The late-evening service in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday came after the pope's Angelus noon prayer, which he delivered from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square.

The Argentine pontiff, himself the grandson of Italian migrants, told faithful at late-evening Christmas vigil Mass that the 'simple story' of Jesus' birth in a manger changed 'our history forever. Everything that night became a source of hope'.

Pope Francis holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday evening

The Argentine pontiff, himself the grandson of Italian migrants, told faithful at late-evening Christmas vigil Mass that the 'simple story' of Jesus' birth in a manger changed 'our history forever. Everything that night became a source of hope'

Catholic faithful flocked to the Vatican to take their seats in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday to attend to the Pope's Christmas Eve Mass

Francis was surrounded by Cardinals and thousands of members of the public as he held a Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday night

Pope Francis celebrates during the traditional midnight Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve at the Vatican on Sunday

Noting that Mary and Joseph arrived in a land 'where there was no place for them', Francis drew parallels to contemporary time.

'So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary,' he said in his homily. 'We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day.

'We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones.'

Francis has made concern for economic migrants, war refugees and others on society's margins a central plank of his papacy.

He said God is present in 'the unwelcomed visitor, often unrecognizable, who walks through our cities and our neighborhoods, who travels on our buses and knocks on our door'.

That perception of God should develop into 'new forms of relationship, in which none have to feel that there is no room for them on this Earth,' he said.

Pope Francis has previously used his public events around Christmas to discuss the current state of the world and what can change for the better

Pope Francis unveils a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday evening

Pope Francis kisses a statue of baby Jesus during Sunday's Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter's Basilica. It came after the pope's Angelus noon prayer, which he delivered from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square

Francis is set to deliver his Christmas Day message 'urbi et orbi' - Latin for 'to the city and to the world' - on Monday from the central loggia of the basilica overlooking St Peter's Square

Children carry bouquets of flowers to the statue of Baby Jesus during Sunday's Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter's Basilica on Sunday

After unveiling the statue of Baby Jesus and greeting it with a kiss, Pope Francis held it in his arms. Like years before, children from countries that Francis has visited as Pontiff were invited to watch him speak inside the grand 16th Century church - one of the largest in the world

As the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out at the start of Mass, Francis entered in flowing white robes before unveiling a statue of baby Jesus

Many engulfed in the ongoing migration crisis were forced to flee from leaders 'who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood', said the 81-year-old, who will give his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' Christmas address on Monday

His Christmas message traditionally notes world events and trouble spots, while aiming to strike a hopeful note as the year winds down

'Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity,' Francis said.

He urged urged the world's 1.3billion Catholics not to ignore the plight of migrants who are 'driven from their land' because of leaders willing to shed 'innocent blood'.

Many engulfed in the ongoing migration crisis were forced to flee from leaders 'who, to impose their power and increase their wealth, see no problem in shedding innocent blood', said the 81-year-old, who will give his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' Christmas address on Monday.

As the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out at the start of Mass, Francis entered in flowing white robes before unveiling a statue of baby Jesus, which he gently kissed to start the event.

Like years before, children from countries that Francis has visited as Pontiff were invited to watch him speak inside the grand 16th Century church - one of the largest in the world.

Noting that Mary and Joseph arrived in a land 'where there was no place for them', Francis drew parallels to contemporary time during his homily on Sunday

Francis urged urged the world's 1.3billion Catholics not to ignore the plight of migrants who are 'driven from their land' because of leaders willing to shed 'innocent blood'

Francis said God is present in 'the unwelcomed visitor, often unrecognizable, who walks through our cities and our neighborhoods, who travels on our buses and knocks on our door'

That perception of God should develop into 'new forms of relationship, in which none have to feel that there is no room for them on this Earth,' he said

It is unclear how many exactly attended Sunday's Mass, but St Peter's Basilica has a capacity of 60,000. The 81-year-old pope, who was born of Italian immigrant stock in Argentina, has made defense of migrants a major plank of his papacy, often putting him at odds with politicians

Pope Francis delivers a blessing at the end of the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday evening

Francis also condemned human traffickers who make money off desperate migrants as the 'Herods of today' with blood on their hands, a reference to the Biblical story of the king who ordered the killing of all newborn male children near Bethlehem because he feared Jesus would one day displace him

The children left flowers around the statue of baby Jesus before Francis, 81, addressed the thousands who gathered at the basilica.

It is unclear how many exactly attended Sunday's Mass, but St Peter's Basilica has a capacity of 60,000.

The 81-year-old pope, who was born of Italian immigrant stock in Argentina, has made defense of migrants a major plank of his papacy, often putting him at odds with politicians.

Austria's new chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, has aligned himself with central European neighbours like Hungary and the Czech Republic in opposing German-backed proposals to distribute asylum seekers around EU member states.

In elections in Germany in September, the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made significant gains, with electors punishing Chancellor Angela Merkel for her open-door policy and pushing migration policy to the top of the agenda in talks to form a coalition government.

Italy's anti-immigrant Northern League, whose leader Matteo Salvini often gives fiery speeches against migrants, is expected to make gains in national elections next year. A law that would give citizenship to children born in Italy to migrant parents is stalled in parliament.

In his homily, Francis said, 'Our document of citizenship' comes from God, making respect of migrants an integral part of Christianity

Pope Francis, background center, celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday evening

Pope Francis celebrates mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on Sunday at St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

Pope Francis holds the book of the Gospel as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Sunday

Pope Francis delivers his homily during the Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday, where he addressed thousands of people in attendance

It is unclear how many exactly attended Sunday's Mass, but St Peter's Basilica - one of the largest churches in the world - has a capacity of 60,000

In his homily, Francis said, 'Our document of citizenship' comes from God, making respect of migrants an integral part of Christianity.

'This is the joy that we tonight are called to share, to celebrate and to proclaim. The joy with which God, in his infinite mercy, has embraced us pagans, sinners and foreigners, and demands that we do the same,' Francis said.

Francis also condemned human traffickers who make money off desperate migrants as the 'Herods of today' with blood on their hands, a reference to the Biblical story of the king who ordered the killing of all newborn male children near Bethlehem because he feared Jesus would one day displace him.

More than 14,000 people have died trying to make the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe in the past four years.

Francis is set to his Christmas Day message 'urbi et orbi' - Latin for 'to the city and to the world' - on Monday from the central loggia of the basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square.

The message traditionally notes world events and trouble spots, while aiming to strike a hopeful note as the year winds down.

Christmas Eve and midnight Masses are held around world as Pope addresses the Vatican

From the Middle East and Western Europe to the United States and China, millions of people attended Midnight and Christmas Eve Masses on Sunday night to prepare for holiday celebrations.

Palestinian scouts played drums and bagpipes at Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem on Sunday, but many tourists stayed away this year.

Hundreds of people gathered in the cold on Bethlehem's Manger square to watch the annual scout parade towards the Church of the Nativity, built over the spot where tradition says Mary gave birth to Jesus.

In neighbouring Egypt, Coptic Christians who celebrate Christmas on January 6 saw a church in Giza attacked by a mob following Muslim prayers on Friday, the latest in some 20 such incidents in 2017.

Christmas decorations have meanwhile become more visible in Christian areas of Syria's capital Damascus this year.

In Iraq too, this year marks a positive turning point for the Christian community in the northern city of Mosul.

Pakistani Christians attend midnight Christmas mass at St. Anthony's church in Lahore, Pakistan, on Sunday

A Christian woman prays during midnight Christmas Mass at St. Anthony's church in Lahore, Pakistan

A Christian woman prays during midnight Christmas Mass at St. Anthony's church in Lahore, Pakistan

Archbishop Gintaras Grusas greets worshipers during the Christmas celebration midnight Mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania

Priests and clergy process to attend the Christmas celebration midnight Mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sunday

People attend a Christmas Eve mass at the Saint Antuan Church in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday

A priest attends Christmas Mass at Saint Antuan Church in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, on Sunday

People light candles during Christmas Eve mass at the Saint Anthony of Padua Church on Sunday in Instanbul, Turkey

People attend a Christmas Eve mass at the Saint Antuan Church in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday

Catholics attend the Christmas Eve mass in the Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing, China, on Sunday. Christians in China attend church masses as they prepare to celebrate the religious holiday to commemorate the birth of Christ

Catholics receive the Eucharist during the Christmas Eve mass in the Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing, China, on Sunday

Chinese bishop Joseph Li Shan (center) takes part in the Christmas Eve mass in the Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing on Sunday

Members of a choir sing during the Christmas Eve mass in the Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing, China, on Sunday

Two Santa Clauses pose for photo outside the Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing, China, on Sunday

Iraqi priests lead the prayers during a Christmas mass at the Saint Paul's church in Mosul city, northern Iraq. Dozens of Iraqi Chaldean Christians from Mosul held their prayers at Saint Paul's church for the first time after the expulsion of the Islamic state state group from the city

Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas Eve Mass in St. Joseph's Church in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sunday

Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas Eve Mass at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on Sunday

Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas Eve Mass at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad

A Baby Jesus is presented as part of Christmas Eve Mass at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad on Sunday

Iraqi Christian children attend a mass at Church of Saint George in Teleskof, Iraq, on Sunday

People arrive for a Christmas eve mass at The 'Flussschifferkirche' floating church in the Baumwall area of Hamburg, Germany

The 'Flussschifferkirche' boat church was first built especially for Inland sailors who navigate the rivers and canals

People listen to music during a Christmas eve mass at The 'Flussschifferkirche' floating church in the Baumwall area of Hamburg, Germany

The Rev Tom Braak, a retired priest from Marshalltown, Iowa, uses a candle in a cupcake to celebrate the birth of Jesus during the Homily for children given at the Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday

The head of the Catholic church in Bosnia-Herzegovina Cardinal Vinko Puljic, center, holds a Christmas mass in Sarajevo's main Cathedral

A Bosnian Croat woman offers prayer as she attends a Christmas Eve Mass in Sarajevo's main Cathedral on Sunday

US soldiers serving in the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo together with Kosovar Christians attend the midnight Christmas mass eve in Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa in Kosovo capital Pristina on Sunday

Kosovar children dressed as angels pray prior to the Christmas mass eve, marking the birth of Jesus Christ at the Mother Teresa cathedral in Pristina on Sunday

Egyptian Catholics attend the the Christmas Eve Mass at the Saint Joseph Church in Cairo on Sunday

A boy is carried by his father as he receives Holy Communion during a mass on Christmas eve at Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Cairo, Egypt

Father Farah carries statue of Jesus Christ during the Christmas Mass at the Saint Joseph Church in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday

oussef Abssi, the Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church (left), attends a mass at al-Zaitoun church at the Christian-dominated Bab Sharqi neighborhood in Damascus, Syria

Christian devotees pray during Christmas mass in Colombo on Monday morning. Christians account for some six per cent of Sri Lanka's 21million people