Vatican publishes schedule of papal Christmas liturgies November 28, 2023By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Vatican workers continued to decorate the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square and to erect a platform for the Nativity scene, the office of papal liturgical ceremonies published the list of holiday Masses and prayer services Pope Francis would celebrate. The Vatican already had announced Pope Francis will make his traditional late afternoon visit to the Spanish Steps in the center of Rome Dec. 8 to pay tribute to the Immaculate Conception at a Marian statue. For the Dec. 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he is scheduled to preside over an evening Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Christmas liturgies announced Nov. 28 include: — Dec. 24 at 7:30 p.m., the pope will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica. While the Mass is commonly referred to as “midnight Mass,” the Vatican celebration has been earlier for more than a decade. — Dec. 25 at noon, Pope Francis gives his message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. — Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope presides over evening prayer and the chanting of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving to God for the year that is ending. — Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. in the basilica, the pope celebrates Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day. — Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s, Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the feast of the Epiphany. — Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. in the Sistine Chapel, the pope presides over a Mass for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and baptizes several infants. Read More Vatican News Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with 120,000 people in Cameroon: ‘Bring the bread of life to your neighbors’ Trump says he has ‘right to disagree’ with Pope Leo, meeting him not ‘necessary’ At Cameroonian orphanage, Pope Leo tells children they can always find a friend in Jesus ‘We can always begin anew’: Pope Leo leads peace meeting in heart of Cameroon’s conflict zone Americans continue to feel drawn to Pope Leo, first American pontiff, a year after election Pope Leo XIV arrives in Cameroon as ‘a servant of dialogue’ amid violent separatist conflict Copyright © 2023 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with 120,000 people in Cameroon: ‘Bring the bread of life to your neighbors’
