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Christmas

The custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, lights the first candle of the Advent wreath at the site of the manger inside the Nativity Grotto on Nov. 30, 2024, during the first vespers of the first Sunday of Advent. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

Heads of Christian Churches in Holy Land Call for End of War in Gaza in Christmas Message

Dec 16, 2024

Invoking the spirit of Christmas, leaders of Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Armenian, and other churches gave thanks to God for the recent ceasefire in Lebanon.

Pope Francis greets artists and participants of the 2024 Vatican Christmas Concert in the Clementine Hall on Dec. 14, 2024. / Vatican Media

Pope Francis Calls on Vatican Christmas Concert Artists to Promote Peace, Reconciliation

Dec 14, 2024

The pope emphasized the unique power of music to foster unity and communion, drawing parallels to the first Christmas.

Pope Francis takes a figure of the Christ child in his arms at the end of the Vatican's Mass for the Nativity of the Lord on Dec. 24, 2023. | Vatican Media

Jesus was Born to Save the World: Pope Francis at Christmas Mass

Dec 24, 2023

In his Christmas homily, Pope Francis shared a message for anyone who may be feeling sad or discouraged with a reminder that the Lord was born to save the world and to give us a hope that is greater than all of our problems.

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address on Dec. 24, 2023. | Vatican Media

Pope Francis: Do not Confuse Christmas with Consumerism

Dec 24, 2023

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis urged Christians not to confuse Christmas with consumerism, but to celebrate the birth of Christ by sharing with those who are lonely and in need.

Pope Francis prays during Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 24, 2023. | Vatican Media

Full text: Pope Francis’ Homily for Christmas 2023

Dec 24, 2023

The full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, delivered on Dec. 24, 2023, in St. Peter’s Basilica.  

Today, Friday, December 24, We Celebrate Vigil of Christmas

Dec 24, 2023

In the first ages, during the night before every feast, a vigil was kept. In the evening the faithful assembled in the place or church where the feast was to be celebrated and prepared themselves by prayers, readings from Holy Writ (now the Offices of Vespers and Matins), and sometimes also by hearing a sermon.

Credit: Lisa Missenda/Shutterstock

Yes, You Need to Go to Mass Twice this Weekend — for Sunday and for Christmas

Dec 23, 2023

The fourth Sunday of Advent falls on Christmas Eve. That means the faithful must attend two Masses in a row to meet their Sunday and Christmas Day obligations.

Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 24, 2022. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Here are Pope Francis’ Liturgies for Christmas 2023 at the Vatican

Nov 28, 2023

As the season of Advent draws near, the Vatican has published the schedule of Pope Francis’ liturgies for Christmas through the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

With a cane in his right hand, 86-year-old Pope Francis delivers his 10th Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" blessing on Dec. 25, 2022. | Vatican Media

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis Prays for Prince of Peace to end "third world war"

Dec 25, 2022

In his Christmas Day blessing, Pope Francis prayed that leaders will listen to the “cries of the Prince of Peace” and bring an immediate end to the war in Ukraine and “the other theaters of this third world war.”

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" address on Dec. 25, 2022. | Vatican Media

Full Text: Pope Francis’ Christmas Urbi et Orbi Blessing 2022

Dec 25, 2022

On Christmas Day 2022, Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” address and blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas message.

Pope Francis arriving at the general audience at the Vatican, Dec. 14, 2022 | Daniel Ibáñez / CNA

This is Why Pope Francis Wants You to Spend Less Money this Christmas

Dec 14, 2022

Pope Francis is inviting everyone to have “a more humble Christmas” this year.

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address at the Vatican, Jan. 2, 2022. Screenshot from Vatican News YouTube channel.

God Wants to Live With Us and In Us: Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus

Jan 2, 2022

The pope was speaking at the Sunday Angelus.

Pope Francis gives his Christmas ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing Dec. 25, 2021. Vatican Media

Christmas Urbi et Orbi Blessing 2021: Pope Asks World Leaders to Be Open to Dialogue

Dec 25, 2021

He spoke from the central balcony overlooking a rainy St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis offers Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Vatican Media

"God comes into the world in littleness": Pope Francis in Christmas Homily

Dec 24, 2021

In his Christmas homily, Pope Francis asked Christians to contemplate that God did not choose to come into the world in grandeur, but as a humble child born into poverty.

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Christmas Falls on a Saturday This Year. What Does That Mean for Mass Obligations? 

Dec 21, 2021

This weekend, Latin rite Catholics have an obligation to attend Mass on both Christmas Day, Saturday, Dec. 25, and on the following day, Sunday, Dec. 26. 

Christmas in Ouagadougou. Credit: Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)

Christian Refugees in Burkina Faso Nostalgic about Christmas before Terrorist Attacks

Dec 18, 2021

Displaced Christians in Burkina Faso are remembering with nostalgia how joyfully they celebrated Christmas before militants uprooted them from their homes, forcing them to seek refuge elsewhere.

Credit: Archdiocese of Abuja

Let Christmas Sprit Inspire “political, social, religious peace”: Archbishop in Nigeria

Dec 7, 2021

The Archbishop of Abuja in Nigeria has called upon the people of God in the West African country that is battling insecurity issues to be inspired by the spirit of Christmas to embrace peace.

Pope Francis gives his Christmas ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing Dec. 25, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Pope Francis Calls for "vaccines for all" as He Gives Christmas Urbi et Orbi Blessing

Dec 26, 2020

Giving his traditional Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” blessing Friday, Pope Francis called for coronavirus vaccines to be made available to the world’s neediest people. 

Pope Francis at his general audience address in the library of the Apostolic Palace Dec. 16, 2020. Credit: Vatican Media.

Christmas “feast of love incarnate, born for us in Jesus Christ”: Pope Francis

Dec 23, 2020

Pope Francis said Wednesday that Christmas brings joy and strength that can remove the pessimism that has spread in human hearts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.