Pope Francis prays for peace in hearts, families, world in New Year

Published January 1, 2015 2:31pm CST

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has prayed for blessings for "the entire human family" in his first public ceremony of the new year.

Celebrating Mass Thursday morning in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis also asked that God "grant peace to our days— peace in hearts, peace in families, peace among nations."

Tourists, pilgrims and Romans were streaming to St. Peter's Square for his noon appearance.