Christmas mass in the Vatican: Pope prayed for children at war

For the first time after two years of the pandemic, with a limited number of participants to protect against infection, Christmas mass took place on Saturday with 7,000 believers. During his homily, the Pope prayed for children at war.Vatican City. According to the Vatican, at least 3,000 believers will follow the papal mass from outside on the large screens in St. Peter’s Square. The 86-year-old pontiff led the Christmas celebrations this year for the tenth time.

The Pope dedicated his thoughts to children, especially those living in wars. “Even at this Christmas, an insatiable humanity leaves no room for the little ones, for so many poor, forgotten people, as it did for Jesus. I think especially of the children devoured by wars, poverty and injustice. But Jesus is coming right there, as a baby in the manger of apostasy and rejection,” the Pope said in his Christmas Eve homily.

“In how many places today are dignity and freedom trampled underfoot. And the main victims of human greed are always the weak,” added the Pope. “Let’s not let this Christmas go by without doing something good, let’s give a little hope in his name to those who have lost it,” said the Holy Father.

As in the past two years, the traditional Christmas mass on December 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica was brought forward and began at 7:30 p.m. In this way, in 2020 the Vatican took account of the night curfew in force in Italy. In 2021 the fair also started at 7.30 p.m. The mass commemorating the birth of Christ around 2,000 years ago was broadcast live in several countries and on the Internet. Christmas, alongside the celebrations of Easter, is a high point in the church year for many practicing Christians.

Pope Francis will announce this year’s Christmas message on Sunday (12 noon). As every year on Christmas Day, the head of the Catholic Church addresses the faithful from all over the world from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and then donates the solemn papal blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope will give thanks for the past year at vespers on December 31 at 5:00 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica with the hymn of praise, the “Te Deum”. This is also in line with conventional practice. For the tenth year, Francis is celebrating a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of January 1, 2022 (10 a.m.). The Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Peace on this date.

Source: Nachrichten