Pope to open Holy Year with full schedule of Christmas liturgies November 28, 2024By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With the opening of the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis’ schedule of liturgies in December and January has expanded. The pope, who will celebrate his 88th birthday Dec. 17, is not planning to skip any of his normal Christmastime Masses and prayer services but will add an early morning Mass Dec. 29 at Rome’s Rebibbia prison to open a Holy Door there. Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, published a list of the pope’s Christmas season liturgies Nov. 25. With papal services already listed on the Vatican website, the papal liturgies for December and January include (times listed are local time in Rome): — Dec. 7, consistory for the creation of new cardinals at 4 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica. — Dec. 8, Mass with the new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 a.m. and act of veneration for the feast of the Immaculate Conception near the Spanish steps in Rome at 4 p.m. — Dec. 12, Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter’s Basilica at 6 p.m. — Dec. 15, papal trip to Ajaccio, Corsica, including an open-air Mass in the afternoon. — Dec. 24, opening of Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at 7 p.m., following by the celebration of the Christmas “Mass during the night.” — Dec. 25, Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at noon from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. — Dec. 26, opening of the Holy Door and Mass for the feast of St. Stephen at Rome’s Rebibbia prison at 9 a.m. — Dec. 31, evening prayer and “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the past year in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m. — Jan. 1, Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. — Jan. 6, Mass on the feast of the Epiphany at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica. — Jan. 12, Mass for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the baptism of infants at 9:30 a.m. in the Sistine Chapel. Read More Vatican News Ahead of Lourdes visit, alleged Rupnik victims appeal to pope to end Vatican’s ‘prolonged silence’ At UNESCO, pope laments paradox of celebrating AI while human dignity ‘discarded’ Pope Leo XIV arrives in Paris, urging French leaders to protect the right to life Notre Dame professor John Cavadini selected as 2026 Ratzinger Prize recipient Technological advancements are not rivals to faith, pope says Pope Leo XIV to make historic first veneration of ‘holy tunic,’ highlighting Christian unity Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
