Pope Francis set for first Christmas speech

Pope Francis is set to make his first Christmas address as pontiff in front of thousands of pilgrims in St Peter's Square in the Vatican.

The Argentine pope is expected to tackle themes such as global poverty, which he has focused on since taking over from Benedict in March this year.

Last year Benedict used his Christmas address to call for peace in Syria.

Christians around the world are celebrating Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

On Tuesday evening thousands gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square for Christmas Eve celebrations.

The nearby Church of the Nativity sits on the spot where Jesus is said to have been born.

Correspondents said it was the biggest crowd to attend the event in years.

Latin Patriarch Archbishop Fouad Twal, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, called on the crowd to be 'brothers with each other'.

Pope Francis celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass since becoming pontiff at St Peter's Basilica.

In a short homily, Francis said that every Christian can choose between darkness and light, between love and hate.

'If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us,' he said.

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