Pope Francis' schedule for Christmas celebrations

Pope Francis has his usual busy schedule for the upcoming Christmas Season starting with Christmas Eve Mass.  Monsignor Guido Marini, the Master of the Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations has issued the following programme of the Pope’s liturgical celebrations this Christmas Season:

° December 24, 2018, 09.30 pm: Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica

° December 25, 2018, 12.00 pm:  Christmas message and blessing “ Urbi  et Orbi” from the  central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica

° December 31, 2018, 05.00 pm: First Vespers for the feast of Mary the Mother of God, followed by the exposition of the Holy Eucharist, the traditional singing of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the concluding year 2018, and the Eucharistic blessing. 

° January 01, 2019, 10.00 am: Mass for the feast of Mary the Mother of God in St. Peter’s Basilica.  World Day of Peace on the theme, “Good Politics is at the Service of Peace”.

° January 06, 2019, 10.00 am: Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Christmas Season comes to an end with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which in 2019 falls on January 13.  The Holy Father marks the occasion by baptizing babies during a Holy Mass in the Vatican’s famed Sistine Chapel.