Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Dec. 15, 2021. / Vatican Media.
Vatican City, Dec 15, 2021 / 03:35 am (CNA).
Pope Francis invited Catholics on Wednesday to learn from St. Joseph how to cultivate silence in the… […]
When I began working with some regularity in Rome thirty years ago, my elders and betters taught me that no one paid much attention to the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. The exception to that rule […]
Tracey Rowland holds two doctorates in theology in addition to degrees in law and philosophy. After studies at the University of Queensland, she lectured in Soviet and Central European Politics at Monash University while completing […]
If I were an airport fiction editor, and an author walked into my office with a pitch for a novel about a Vatican maxi-trial over $400 million in blue chip London real estate investment gone […]
Congressman Guillermo Bermejo / ANDINA / Renato Pajuelo and Pexels
Lima, Peru, Dec 14, 2021 / 16:00 pm (CNA).
A Peruvian congressman who is being investigated for ties to the Shining Path terrorist organization is supporting a new bill to decri… […]
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 24, 2018. / Vatican Media.
Vatican City, Dec 14, 2021 / 15:35 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has published Pope Francis’ Christmas schedule for this year, which includes five special liturgies and prayers between Christmas Eve and the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
During the Christmas Octave, the pope is also scheduled to give an Angelus address on St. Stephen’s Day on Dec. 26 and hold a Wednesday General Audience on Dec. 29.
Papal Christmas Mass – Dec. 24
Pope Francis will offer Mass for the Nativity of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24. This “Midnight Mass” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Rome time (1:30 p.m. EST) with the traditional Kalenda Proclamation of the Birth of Christ and will be broadcast live on EWTN.
Christmas Day Blessing – Dec. 25
On Christmas Day, Pope Francis will give a traditional papal blessing at noon called the “Urbi et Orbi,” which in Latin means, “To the City and the World.” Along with the blessing, the pope gives an address that highlights humanitarian crises, war-stricken countries, and other situations around the world in need of prayer.
The pope typically gives this blessing from the central loggia of the basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square (the same balcony from which a new pope is introduced), but last year Pope Francis gave the blessing from inside the Apostolic Palace to avoid a large gathering of people due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vespers on New Year’s Eve – Dec. 31
Pope Francis will pray the First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31. After vespers, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Eucharistic Adoration and the “Te Deum” will be sung in thanksgiving for the past year.
Solemnity of Mary Holy Mother of God – Jan. 1
The pope’s first liturgy of 2022 will be in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis will offer Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. On this day, Pope Francis will also mark the 55th World Day of Peace.
Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord – Jan. 6
Pope Francis will offer Mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10 a.m. The Epiphany celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. It focuses primarily on this revelation to the Three Wise Men.
null / oasisamuel/Shutterstock
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 14, 2021 / 15:15 pm (CNA).
In an order that drew a sharply worded dissent by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to block New York’s COVID-19 vaccinati… […]
Reading Roger Scruton (1944-2020) leaves one with the feeling that we are too often underserved by less erudite and more superficial writers nowadays. The collection of essays in Confessions of a Heretic provides learned, robust, […]
Majed, a Syrian refugee living in Zahlé, Lebanon. / Aid to the Church in Need.
Zahle, Lebanon, Dec 14, 2021 / 13:00 pm (CNA).
As Christmas approaches, Majed knows that he has something important in common with the newborn Jesus. In an interview… […]
John the Baptist extols us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” As we prepare for the Lord’s birthday, let’s consider a few voices crying out from the wilderness. During the 1992 Columbus Quincentenary commemorations, […]
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