Francis closed his address saying that Mary and Joseph truly introduce us "to the mystery of Christmas."
"Mary helps us to put ourselves in an attitude of availability to welcome the Son of God in our concrete lives, in our flesh. Joseph spurs us to always seek the will of God and to follow it with full trust," he said, and led pilgrims in praying the Angelus.
After reciting the traditional Marian prayer, Francis offered special prayers for the ongoing political dialogue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The DRC is currently entangled in a political headlock as the country's president, Joseph Kabila, faces the end of his final term, set for Dec. 19.
However, the elections, originally scheduled to take place in November, were never organized, and according to a deal struck between Kabila and an opposition faction in October, the president is allowed to stay in power until official polls are held.
The polls are tentatively set for April 2018, however, many parties in opposition to Kabila's government oppose the deal, and are calling for the president to step down and schedule the elections for 2017.
As tensions mount, fears are also increasing that there will be a repeat of a Sept. 19 demonstration by one of the opposition groups turned violent, leading to the death of more than 50 people in just two days.
Catholic bishop in the country have intervened in negotiations in hopes that a crisis might be averted with Kabila's term ends tomorrow.
Pope Francis himself prayed after the Angelus that the talks would be "conducted with serenity in order to avoid any type of violence, and for the good of the entire country."
He thanked everyone who sent him birthday wishes yesterday for his 80th birthday, and wished the pilgrims a merry Christmas before asking for prayers.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.