PHOTO: Pope Francis led the Christmas eve Mass, of about 10,000 people, in St. Peter's Basilica. (Reuters: Tony Gentile)

(VOVworld) - Pope Francis urged a return to essential values during the Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica, adding that Christmas is a time to "once more discover who we are". In his homily, the 79-year-old Argentine Pope focused on some of the key themes of his papacy: mercy, compassion, empathy, and justice.

In his Christmas Eve Speech, King Philippe of Belgium focused on the fight against terrorism, noting that it is among Belgium’s top priorities in the New Year.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II highlighted the triumph of good over evil in her Christmas message, following deadly terrorist attacks all over the world in 2015, including attacks in Paris.

Meanwhile, Spain’s King Felipe VI, in his annual Christmas Eve speech, urged Spaniards to remain united as the nation faces an uncertain political future after an election Sunday that splintered the nation’s traditional two-party system, with two new parties winning substantial support.