The 85-year-old pontiff led the Christmas celebrations in the Vatican for the ninth time this year.
The traditional Christmas mass on December 24th in St. Peter’s Basilica was brought forward – as in the previous year – and began at 7.30 p.m. In 2020, the Vatican took into account the night curfew in Italy. The mass in memory of the birth of Christ around 2,000 years ago was broadcast live in several countries and on the Internet. Christmas, along with the Easter celebrations, is a highlight for many practicing Christians in the church year.
The head of the Catholic Church placed the subject of “dignity of work” at the center of his sermon. Man is master and not slave of work. So the pontiff advocated measures against fatal accidents at work.
The Pope called on the faithful to “return to Bethlehem”. “Let us return to the origins, to the essence of faith, to first love, to adoration and to charity”, said Francis and pleaded for a “poor and fraternal Church”.
Pope Francis will announce this year’s Christmas message on Saturday (12 noon). From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, the head of the Church addresses the faithful all over the world on Christmas Day and then donates the solemn blessing of the Pope “Urbi et Orbi” (the city and the world) from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. Also this year, the audience on the square in front of St. Peter’s Basilica is restricted due to the corona pandemic.
The Pope thanked him for the past year at a Vespers with the praise of the “Te Deum” on December 31st at 5 pm in St. Peter’s Basilica. This, too, corresponds to the conventional custom. For the New Year, Francis celebrates a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of January 1, 2022 (10 a.m.). The Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Peace on this date.
Source: Nachrichten
