Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve mass

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass before an estimated 2,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica on Friday, going ahead with the service despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has prompted a new vaccine mandate for Vatican employees. 

Francis processed down the central aisle, kicking off the Vatican's Christmas holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.

In his homily, Francis urged the faithful to focus on the "littleness" of Jesus and remember that he came into the world poor. Attendance on Friday was limited to about 2,000 people, far more than the 200 allowed in 2020 when Italy was in a full Christmas lockdown.