this is d.w. news live from berlin pope francis leaves christmas eve mass as christians around the world celebrate the birth of jesus after a year that has seen kept the catholic church rocked by scandals francis used his address as midnight addressed at the vatican to urge christians not to lose faith. airstrikes killed at least 8 in the syrian province of idlib 5 of them children decide regimes latest offensive against the country's last major rebel stronghold has forced tens of thousands to flee the u.n. once children are bearing the brunt of the intensifying violence. a mommy and he's of good to have you with us across countries and cultures christians around the world have begun celebrating christmas at the vatican pope francis led the midnight mass at st peter's basilica as one of the most important ceremonies on the catholic calendar people from around the globe descend on rome to