ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: Pope Francis on Wednesday marked the start of the new year celebrating mass in St. Peter's Basilica.<br/> <br />Crowds in the packed basilica held out their mobile phones, iPads and cameras as Francis arrived for the solemn mass.<br/> <br />The pope began his homily reading an ancient blessing which God gave to Moses to hand on to Aaron and his sons.<br/> <br />"There is no more meaningful time than the beginning of a new year to hear these words of blessing: they will accompany our journey through the year opening up before us. They are words of strength, courage and hope. Not an illusory hope, based on frail human promises, or a naïve hope which presumes that the future will be better simply because it is the future. Rather, it is a hope that has its foundation precisely in God's blessing," Francis said.<br/> <br />The pontiff, who looked tired, has had a hectic Christmas schedule.<br/> <br />The cycle of the Christmas liturgies will conclude on January 6 with M
