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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has a busy schedule during the Octave of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the Holy Father will celebrate Christmas Mass “during the Night” in St Peter’s Basilica, beginning at 9:30 Rome time.On Sunday, at noon on Christmas day, Pope Francis will deliver his annual Christmas message, ahead of the traditional blessing Urbi et orbi: of the City of Rome, and of the whole world.Both the Mass on Christmas Eve and the Pope’s Christmas message will be broadcast by Vatican Radio with live commentary in English.Pope Francis will lead the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square in the Angelus for the feast of St Stephen the first martyr at noon on Monday, the first day after Christmas, also known in many English-speaking countries as Boxing Day.The fourth day of the Christmas Octave, the feast of the Holy Innocents, will see Pope Francis returning to St Peter’s Square for his Wednesday General Audience, beginning at the usual hour ...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has a busy schedule during the Octave of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, the Holy Father will celebrate Christmas Mass “during the Night” in St Peter’s Basilica, beginning at 9:30 Rome time.
On Sunday, at noon on Christmas day, Pope Francis will deliver his annual Christmas message, ahead of the traditional blessing Urbi et orbi: of the City of Rome, and of the whole world.
Both the Mass on Christmas Eve and the Pope’s Christmas message will be broadcast by Vatican Radio with live commentary in English.
Pope Francis will lead the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square in the Angelus for the feast of St Stephen the first martyr at noon on Monday, the first day after Christmas, also known in many English-speaking countries as Boxing Day.
The fourth day of the Christmas Octave, the feast of the Holy Innocents, will see Pope Francis returning to St Peter’s Square for his Wednesday General Audience, beginning at the usual hour of 10 am Rome time.
On Saturday 31 December, New Year’s Eve, the Holy Father will lead the celebration of First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God in the Vatican Basilica. The liturgy will begin at 5 pm Rome time. Following Vespers, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar for a period of Adoration, and the traditional hymn Te Deum will be sung in thanksgiving at the conclusion of the civil year. The liturgical celebration will conclude with Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament.
After the ceremonies within St Peter’s, Pope Francis will visit the crèche set up outside the Basilica in St Peter’s Square, where he is expected to spend some time in silent prayer.
The following day, Sunday, the last day of the Octave of Christmas, Pope Francis will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God. The Mass will begin at 10 am Rome time, and will be broadcast with live English commentary.
Finally, at the conclusion of the Mass on New Year’s Day, Pope Francis will pray the Angelus at noon with all the faithful in St Peter’s Square and around the world.
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has visited the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, to convey to him his Christmas greetings.The visit took place on Friday afternoon, when Francis knocked at the door of the “Mater Ecclesiae” monastery in the Vatican where Benedict resides. As they do each year during the Christmas season, the two men spent some time together, first in prayer and then in conversation.The Pope’s gesture and good wishes for Holy Christmas are part of the simplicity of a daily relationship that exists between the Holy Father and the Pope Emeritus.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has visited the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, to convey to him his Christmas greetings.
The visit took place on Friday afternoon, when Francis knocked at the door of the “Mater Ecclesiae” monastery in the Vatican where Benedict resides.
As they do each year during the Christmas season, the two men spent some time together, first in prayer and then in conversation.
The Pope’s gesture and good wishes for Holy Christmas are part of the simplicity of a daily relationship that exists between the Holy Father and the Pope Emeritus.
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About 1,500 Christians, mostly Catholics, and a good number of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists exchanged Christmas greetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who as guest of honour, sang Christmas carols along with the Christians."I thank Pope Francis for appointing a Bengali as cardinal,” she said. Turning to newly elected Card Patrick D'Rozario, she added, “Your Eminence, I ask not to work only for Christians, but for the welfare of the whole country, as you have done in the past."The exchange of greetings took place in the auditorium of the Krishibid Institution, in Dakha. "Those who claim to practice religion create conflicts between faiths,” the prime minister said, “whilst those who truly believe in religion have confidence and trust in themselves, and never take unjust measures".According to Hasina, "religion is in danger from those who try to use it in a negative way. Hence, it is everyone's responsibility to ma...
About 1,500 Christians, mostly Catholics, and a good number of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists exchanged Christmas greetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who as guest of honour, sang Christmas carols along with the Christians.
"I thank Pope Francis for appointing a Bengali as cardinal,” she said. Turning to newly elected Card Patrick D'Rozario, she added, “Your Eminence, I ask not to work only for Christians, but for the welfare of the whole country, as you have done in the past."
The exchange of greetings took place in the auditorium of the Krishibid Institution, in Dakha. "Those who claim to practice religion create conflicts between faiths,” the prime minister said, “whilst those who truly believe in religion have confidence and trust in themselves, and never take unjust measures".
According to Hasina, "religion is in danger from those who try to use it in a negative way. Hence, it is everyone's responsibility to maintain the dignity of their own faith and grant it an even more solemn position."
"As a Muslim I follow my religion and I trust it. We must always maintain a peaceful environment in which everyone can practice their beliefs. My government strongly supports the equality of all religions in Bangladesh," she said.
For his part, Cardinal D'Rozario thanked the prime minister for her sincerity. “We want to be free to practice our religion and work in this country for the people with the support of the government,” the Cardinal said in his remarks.
Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman praised "the Catholic Church for the crucial role it plays in the development of education and the country’s socio-economic situation."
Bangladesh, he noted, "is a nation where traditionally there has been religious harmony, even though badly intentioned people are trying to destroy fraternal relations between people of different faiths."
Archbishop George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Bangladesh was also present at the occasion.
(Source: AsiaNews)
