york city. we'll clap like thousands although we are only five. welcome back to "new day." merry christmas to you. let's head to the newsdesk for stories that are making news right now. a call for peace from the pope in his first christmas message overlooking st. peter's square. he called for humanitarian aid access in syria. pope francis delivered his first christmas eve mass at st. peter's basilica last night. he proched love and forgive in is, urging people to cast aside hatred. the president and first lady sending their holiday messages to the nation. they encourage the message to encourage americans to come together and care for each other. they paid special attention noting that many soldiers are home for the holidays. >> many of our troops and newest veterans, this might be the first time in years they've been