Pope says Christmas 'hostage' to materialism, God in shadows Pope Francis holds a statue of baby Jesus during the Christmas night mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 24, 2016. Pope Francis kisses a statue of baby Jesus as he leads the Christmas night mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican December 24, 2016. Dec 24, 2016 http://www.reuters.com/article/us-christmas-season-pope-idUSKBN14D0J3