Pope Leo celebrates the Christmas Day mass, then the Urbi et Orbi blessing

The Pontiff presided over the Christmas Day mass in St. Peter’s Basilica: the last time it happened was in 1994, Leo therefore resumed a tradition that was alive until the time of Pope Wojtyla. At the end of the mass, he surprisingly took a tour of the square in the Popemobile to greet the faithful. Then he appeared from the Central Loggia to impart the Urbi et Orbi Blessing: “We can and must each do our part to reject hatred and practice peace”

Pope Leo XIV presided over the celebration of Christmas Day in St. Peter’s Basilica. This mass had not been celebrated by a Pontiff since the time of John Paul II: Leone therefore resumed a tradition that was alive until the time of Pope Wojtyla. During the homily, the Pontiff launched a new appeal for peace, recalling the suffering of those living in the “tents of Gaza” and of “many other refugees and refugees on every continent”. At the end of the mass, surprisingly, Leone took to the square on board the Popemobile to greet the faithful who were waiting for him in the rain. At 12, he then appeared from the central loggia of the Vatican basilica to impart the Blessing The city and the world. “We can and must each do our part to reject hatred and practice peace,” he said. Then he sent Christmas greetings in ten languages, including Latin, Chinese and Arabic.

The tradition taken up by Pope Leo

On the morning of December 25, therefore, Pope Leo – in procession – entered St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the mass of the “day” on the solemnity of Christmas. The celebration of the “day”, as mentioned, had not been celebrated by a Pontiff since the time of John Paul II: the last time it happened in 1994. Starting from the pontificate of Paul VI, in fact, the Popes had generally entrusted this celebration to a cardinal, personally reserving for themselves the Urbi et Orbi blessing of midday. Leone also resumed the tradition of Christmas greetings pronounced in various languages, of which the last interpreter was always John Paul II.

Christmas Day Mass

For the Christmas mass, the Pope wore white robes: it is the color reserved for the nativity and the resurrection, symbol of the light of life and celebration. Before starting the celebration, this morning too Leone stopped for a few moments in silent prayer in front of the baby Jesus placed on a throne near the Altar of Confession.

The homily

The wounds of humanity suffering due to war were at the center of the homily of the Christmas Day mass celebrated by Leo XIV in St. Peter’s. Citing Pope Francis, the Pontiff warned the faithful against the “temptation of being Christians while maintaining a prudent distance from the wounds of the Lord”, urging them instead to touch the “suffering flesh of others”. “Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others,” he said. “Now the Flesh speaks, it shouts the desire to meet us”, added Leone. “Many brothers and sisters have no word, stripped of their dignity and reduced to silence”, continued the Pope. Instead“human flesh asks for care, calls for acceptance and recognition, seeks hands capable of tenderness and minds willing to pay attention”.

From the tents of Gaza to refugees around the world

And again, the Pope asked himself: “How can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to the rain, wind and cold, and those of many other refugees on every continent, or the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people within our cities? The flesh of the defenseless populations is fragile, tested by the wars in progress or concluded leaving rubble and open wounds. The lives of young people forced to take up arms are fragile, and right at the front they feel the senselessness of what is required of them and the lie with which the bombastic speeches of those who send them to die are imbued”.

The appeal for peace

For Leo It, added the Pope, “is born from a cry that is welcomed, from a cry that is heard: it is born among ruins that call for new solidarity”. And again: “There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, fertilized by listening, we fall to our knees in front of the naked flesh of others”.

La benedizione Urbi et Orbi

The request for peace was also at the center of the message that the Pope pronounced from the central loggia of the Vatican basilica. The Pontiff first addressed the traditional Christmas message to the faithful present throughout the world, then imparted the Urbi et Orbi Blessing and granted the plenary indulgence.

“Everyone can do their part”

“He who does not love is not saved, he is lost”, said the Pope in his Christmas message. And again: “Here is the path to peace: responsibility. If each of us at all levels, instead of accusing others, first of all recognized our own shortcomings and asked God for forgiveness, and at the same time put ourselves in the shoes of those who suffer, stood in solidarity with those who are weaker and more oppressed, then the world would change. We can and must each do our part to reject hatred, violence, opposition and practice dialogue, peace, reconciliation.” “Let us not allow ourselves to be overcome by indifference towards those who suffer. Jesus takes upon himself our fragility, he identifies with each of us: with those who no longer have anything and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing from their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or travel the American continent; with those who have lost their jobs and with those who are looking for one, like many young people who struggle to find employment; those who are exploited, such as too many underpaid workers; those who are in prison and often live in inhumane conditions”, continued the Pope.

The request for peace for Ukraine and the Middle East

Leone called for peace citing several countries. “We entrust the entire European continent to the Prince of Peace, asking him to continue to inspire a community and collaborative spirit, faithful to its Christian roots and its history, supportive and welcoming to those in need. We pray in particular for the tormented Ukrainian people: may the clash of weapons stop and the parties involved, supported by the commitment of the international community, find the courage to dialogue in a sincere, direct and respectful way”, he said. Then he added: “I would like to send a warm and paternal greeting to all Christians, especially to those who live in the Middle East, whom I intended to meet recently on my first apostolic journey. I have listened to their fears and I know well their feeling of helplessness in the face of power dynamics that overtake them. We invoke justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Syria, trusting in these divine words: ‘Practicing justice will give peace. Honoring justice will provide peace of mind and security forever.’”

The appeal for the “forgotten wars”

And on the other areas tormented by wars and conflicts, the Pope continued: “From the Child of Bethlehem we implore peace and consolation for the victims of all the wars taking place in the world, especially the forgotten ones; and for those who suffer due to injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism. I remember in particular the brothers and sisters of Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In these last days of the Jubilee of Hope, let us pray to the God made man for the dear people of Haiti, so that all forms of violence in the country may cease and progress on the path of peace and reconciliation”. Again: “We ask the Prince of Peace to illuminate Myanmar with the light of a future of reconciliation: restore hope to the young generations, guide the entire Burmese people on paths of peace and accompany those who live without a home, security or faith in the future. We ask him that the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia be restored and that the parties involved continue to work for reconciliation and peace. To him we also entrust the people of South Asia and of Oceania, severely tested by the recent and devastating natural disasters, which have severely affected entire populations. In the face of such trials, I invite everyone to renew with conviction our common commitment to helping those who suffer”.

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