Pope Leo celebrates 1st Christmas as pontiff with midnight Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica

VATICAN CITY (WLS) -- Chicago's faithfuls say Christmas Eve services are a part of the holiday tradition.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The tale of Christmas Eve, sung out by the youth choir at Fourth Presbyterian Church.

"My daughter has been performing in the choir here since she was three," Justin Epps said. "It's a big part of the whole Christmas celebration."

Young congregates dressed up to recreate and share the true meaning of the holiday at this year's Christmas Eve Pageant at the historic church along Magnificent Mile.

Chicago's Christian community joined to rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

"It's truly a night where we move from darkness into total light, where the candles are lit and pass from one person to another. And the symbolism of that, it's hard not to get caught up in the sort of contagious joy of being here, young and old," Senior Pastor Camille Cook Howe said.

Chicago-born Pope Leo, presiding over his first midnight mass at the Vatican.

The Pope's message this Christmas season: a plea for peace.

"To see him as a leader coming from the same streets of Chicago up to the Church of Saint Peter is a is a humbling reality that God is working in our midst," Holy Name Cathedral Father Andy Matijevic.

Chicago parishioners at Holy Name Cathedral shared their prayers and pride home-grown Pope.

"I'm so happy and elated that we finally have an American pope from Chicago. So I'm so excited," Victoria Villarreal said.

Cardinal Blase Cupich will preside over midnight Mass. Attendees have to be pre-registered and can get inside an hour earlier.

Christmas carols start at 11:30 p.m.

The service can be viewed live on the Archdiocese of Chicago's YouTube channel.