Pope Leo presided over the Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday night, attended by senior Church leaders, diplomats, and an estimated 6,000 faithful, marking one of the most significant celebrations in the Catholic Church calendar.
The solemn ceremony commemorated the birth of Jesus Christ and blended traditional liturgical music with symbolic rituals, including the placing of a statue of the infant Jesus in a cradle. The Pope delivered a deeply spiritual homily, focusing on the religious meaning of Christmas without making direct references to current global political events.
Changes to Christmas Liturgy Schedule
At 70 years of age, Pope Leo opted to hold the Christmas Eve Mass at a later time compared to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who typically celebrated the service around 1830 GMT due to age-related considerations.
In another notable change, Pope Leo is scheduled to celebrate an additional Mass on Christmas Day, reviving a tradition observed during the papacy of Pope John Paul II (1978–2005).
Following the Christmas Day Mass, the Pope will deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing at 1100 GMT from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The address traditionally includes appeals for peace and reflections on global conflicts.
Call for Peace Amid Global Tensions
Earlier this week, Pope Leo renewed his call for a global truce on Christmas Day, expressing concern over ongoing conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine.
“I renew my appeal to all people of goodwill to observe a day of peace—at least on the feast celebrating the birth of our Saviour,” the Pope said while speaking to reporters at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
He added that he felt “great sadness” over reports suggesting that Russia had rejected calls for a temporary truce.
Jubilee Holy Year Comes to a Close
Christmas 2025 also marks the conclusion of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Holy Year, a major religious event that has drawn millions of pilgrims to Rome over the past year for prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
Church officials noted that the Christmas celebrations carry added significance as the faithful reflect on the close of the Jubilee and the message of hope and reconciliation central to the season.
