Francis Cheers Jesus' Humble Start

The Vatican's popular new guy is celebrating his first Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter's Basilica, and Pope Francis took the occasion to continue to draw from his themes of humility and charity toward society's poor and vulnerable. Emphasizing Jesus Christ's quite humble beginnings, he said, "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." He noted that the shepherds—"among the last, the outcast" in society—were the first to get news of Christ's birth, reports the AP.

On deck for the pontiff: Tomorrow's Christmas Day message, which he'll deliver from the basilica's balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square. The AP has the full text of Francis' homily here. (More Pope Francis stories.)