VATICAN (CNS): Pope Francis will celebrate the Vatican’s traditional Christmas Midnight Mass on December 24 earlier this year at 7.30pm local time so that the few people invited to attend can get home in time to observe Italy’s 10.00pm curfew
The curfew is one of many measures the Italian government has employed in an effort to slow the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
In addition to the early start time, the Vatican’s Covid-19 measures are still in force: only a small congregation will be allowed inside the basilica; people’s temperatures will be checked as they arrive; masks are required for the congregation and servers; seating is socially distanced.
While often is referred to as Midnight Mass, the liturgy it has not been celebrated at midnight at the Vatican since 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI moved it to 10.00pm. Pope Francis moved it to 9.30pm in 2013, his first Christmas as pope.
The pope’s Christmas Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing will be given, as usual, at noon on Christmas Day from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Other liturgies announced by the Vatican on December10 include: evening prayer and the singing of the Te Deum in St. Peter’s Basilica to thank God for the past year at 5.00pm on December 31; Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day on 1 January 2021 at 10.00am; Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the feast of the Epiphany on 6 January 2021 at 10.00am.
