Pope Francis inaugurated the statue of the Child Jesus as he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican, on Friday.
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Pope Francis inaugurated the statue of the Child Jesus as he celebrated Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican, on Friday.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
ROME – Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in front of some 2,000 people at St Peter’s Basilica on Friday, continuing the service despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases that has spurred it. a new vaccine mission for Vatican employees.
A maskless Francis makes his way down the central aisle as the Sistine Chapel choir sings “Noel,” kicking off the Vatican’s Christmas holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. He remained without a mask during the service.
In his homily, Francis urged the faithful to focus on the “smallness” of Jesus, and remember that he came in a world poor, without even a proper crib.
“That’s where God is, in smallness,” Francis said. “Here is the message: God does not rise to greatness, but humbles himself. Smallness is the path that He chose to draw near to us, to touch our hearts, to save them. us and get us back to what really matters.”
Attendance on Friday was limited to around 2,000 people, far more than the 200 allowed in 2020 when Italy was in the midst of a complete Christmas shutdown. But this number is only a fraction of the capacity of St. Peter’s, which can hold up to 20,000 people and in pre-pandemic times will be packed for one of the Vatican’s most popular liturgies of the year.
A Swiss Guard stands as Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
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A Swiss Guard stands as Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
The “midnight Mass” actually begins at 7:30 p.m., a nod to the 85-year-old pontiff’s endurance and a delay from last year, when service had to end before the COVID curfew -19 nationwide of Italy.
There is no curfew in place this year, but cases this week have increased even beyond 2020 levels. For the second day in a row, Italy on Friday set a daily record for a new pandemic. with 50,599 new cases. Another 141 people died, bringing Italy’s official death toll to 136,386.
With the emergence of the omicron variant in Italy, the Vatican secretary of state on Thursday imposed a new vaccine mandate on all Vatican employees, extending it to all staff except those who have recovered from the illness. coronavirus virus. Previously, only employees who were in direct contact with the public had to be vaccinated, such as staff at the Vatican Museums and the Swiss Guard, while others could enter their offices. with regular testing.
The duty does not apply to the faithful attending Mass, but they are required to wear a mask. Those who attended Friday’s Mass, and the priests, bishops and co-deacons, all wore masks. Francis, who was partially missing a lung and had bowel surgery in July, barely wears a mask, even when greeting bishops and the public.
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass, continuing with it despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
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Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass, continuing with it despite a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
“I’m not worried because I have to wear a mask first, and I’ve taken the third dose so I feel comfortable,” said Franco Pasquali, a Rome resident who took part in the ceremony. “The problem is people who aren’t vaccinated, that’s all.”
Francis is said to have received his third booster shot, as did Pope Benedict XVI emeritus. Francis has said vaccinations are an “act of love” and he has called on richer nations to provide the shots to the developing world.
Among those in attendance was Melissa Helland, an American tourist visiting Rome with her family.
“This is the first time in the past two years that we have been able to gather our whole family and attend Mass because of the pandemic, so we are delighted and grateful,” she said before the ceremony began.
