Pope Leo told Christians to remember their duty to help the poor and strangers this Christmas. In his Christmas Eve sermon at St Peter’s Basilica, the pope said the story of Jesus born in a stable shows people that refusing help to those in need is like rejecting God. Pope Leo made care for immigrants and the poor a key theme of his papacy. He said Jesus’ birth means God lives in every person. "On earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. To refuse one is to refuse the other," he said during the mass attended by around 6,000 people. Pope Leo is the first US-born pope and is celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May. He criticized harsh immigration policies, quoting Pope Benedict XVI about the world's lack of care for children, the poor, and foreigners. "While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person," he said. He added, "Where there is room for the human person, there is room for God. Even a stable can become more sacred than a temple." Outside the basilica, about 5,000 people watched the service on screens in St Peter’s Square despite rain. Pope Leo thanked them for their courage to attend in bad weather. He will celebrate a Christmas Day mass and deliver the "Urbi et Orbi" message and blessing on Thursday.