Pope Francis ushered the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas on Wednesday (December 24), urging them to allow God to enter their lives to help combat darkness and corruption.

The 78-year-old Argentine pope led a solemn Christmas Eve Mass for thousands of people in St. Peter's Basilica. It is the second Christmas season for the pope, who was elected last year as the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years.

He has brought an air of simplicity to the Vatican, refusing many of the trappings of office, and has made plain his determination to reform the Vatican and bring the Church's hierarchy closer to rank-and-file Catholics.

A solemn looking Pope made his way along the aisle and up to the altar doing his best to ignore the flashes of cameras and cellphones.

Francis uncovered the statue of the Baby Jesus which he would later place in the crib of the waiting nativity scene.

Ten children representing different parts of the globe carried wreaths