Pope celebrates Epiphany Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

The Holy Father also sent Christmas greetings to the Eastern Churches, which celebrate the birth of Christ tomorrow, January 7th, according to the old Julian calendar. In his mass, Francis recalled the three wise men from the East described in the Gospel, with whom the Christian proclamation of the faith began. During the Angelus prayer, the Pope called on the faithful to pray for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. Francis expressed his closeness to the families of the victims of the attacks in Iran. The Pope said he was praying for the injured. At least 91 people were killed in attacks last Wednesday in the Iranian city of Kerman.

“Let us learn from the embrace of these two greats of the Church”

The Pope also called the meeting between his predecessor Paul VI. and the ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem 60 years ago. “They broke through the wall of incompatibility that had separated Catholics and Orthodox for centuries,” Francis said during the Angelus prayer. “Let us learn from the embrace of these two greats of the Church and continue on the path of Christian unity, praying together, walking together and working together,” the Pope added.

In Italy, January 6th is less about Epiphany and more about celebrating the witch Befana. The word is a corruption of the Greek word “epiphany” (appearance). The pagan festival is about a bulbous-nosed witch who, according to legend, did not follow the Star of Bethlehem in time and thus missed the Bethlehem stable. Still searching for the divine child, she brings her gifts to every house. Befana comes – similar to Santa Claus – on the night of January 6th and leaves gifts and sweets for the children.

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