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Pope Leo XIV celebrates the first Christmas: hope despite the rain!
Pope Leo XIV celebrates his first Christmas in Rome in 2025, despite adverse weather conditions, and calls for peace and humanity.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates the first Christmas: hope despite the rain!
Christmas Day under Pope Leo XIV brings both festive and reflective moments. In Rome, where it has been raining non-stop for days, only about 6,000 worshipers gathered in St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve - a disappointing number considering that St. Peter's Square is usually a magnet for millions of visitors during the Christmas season. Despite the bad weather, the American Pope did not miss the opportunity to personally greet the faithful present and thank them for coming. For many, his first Christmas Mass took place under stormy conditions, which made the significance of the events all the more clear reports the Süddeutsche.
Leo During his homily, Pope Leo linked the Christmas message to the current global political situation and called for weapons to be laid to rest for a day. He appealed to humanity and peace, which is sorely missing in many parts of the world. Particularly in the context of current conflicts, such as the Gaza War, which made Christmas Eve celebrations possible in Bethlehem for the first time in a long time, and the tragic circumstances in Ukraine, where many spend the holiday at the graves of fallen soldiers, this call reflects the urgency of the current situation said the SRF.
A look at the Holy Year
The Christmas mass not only marked a festive highlight, but also the end of the Holy Year 2025. In his message, Pope Leo XIV also expressed the wish for progress in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. The image of hope that the Catholic Church seeks to project to believers around the world is further reinforced by the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day - a blessing that underlines the very essence of the Church and reaches millions of people worldwide each year. Around 100 television stations from almost 60 countries attend the broadcast live every year reports ZDF.
This year it remains to be seen what emphasis Pope Leo XIV will set when blessing. So far it is unclear whether he will resume the tradition of Christmas greetings in many languages, which was ended by Francis. The message itself is accompanied by a film about the most important stages of his pontificate. These include, among others, the conclave in May and a large gathering during the World Youth Meeting in Rome, which took place in the summer and had almost a million participants.
The trials of the present, combined with the traditions of Christmas past, ensure that this Christmas remains unforgettable for many. It is a celebration that not only nurtures hope for peace, but also brings the values of charity and solidarity to the fore.