Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday presided over the first Christmas Mass of his pontificate, welcoming thousands of worshippers who gathered in St Peter’s Square ahead of the solemn service.
In his message during the Mass, Leo described Christmas as a celebration of “faith, charity and hope” and spoke against a “distorted economy” that “leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise”.
Earlier, standing before St Peter’s Basilica, the pontiff extended Christmas greetings and expressed gratitude to those who braved the rain to follow the celebration on large outdoor screens.
“St Peter’s is very large but unfortunately it is not large enough to receive all of you,” he told the crowd, estimated at about 5,000 people.
The American-born pope has so far embraced a quieter and more restrained approach compared to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 and was known for his charismatic presence.
The Mass drew senior Church officials, diplomats and roughly 6,000 faithful. Pope Leo delivered a deeply spiritual homily, steering clear of explicit references to contemporary political issues.
The ceremony, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, remains one of the most significant events in the Catholic calendar, blending ancient hymns with symbolic rituals such as placing a statue of the infant Jesus in a manger.
At 70 years old, Pope Leo opted to celebrate the Mass later than Francis, who in his later years held the Christmas service around 18:30 GMT.
Breaking with recent practice, Leo is also scheduled to celebrate another Mass on Christmas Day, reviving a tradition last observed during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II from 1978 to 2005.
Following that service, he is expected to deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing at 11:00 GMT from the basilica balcony, a moment when popes typically address global conflicts and issue appeals for peace.
On Tuesday, Leo had called for a worldwide ceasefire on Christmas Day, voicing “great sadness” that “apparently Russia rejected a request” for a truce in Ukraine.
“I am renewing my request to all people of good will to respect a day of peace, at least on the feast of the birth of our Saviour,” he told journalists at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.
Christmas 2025 also coincides with the conclusion of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Holy Year, an event that has drawn millions of pilgrims to Rome.
What you should know
Pope Leo XIV’s first Christmas Mass sets the tone for his pontificate, reflecting a focus on spirituality, humility and moral reflection rather than overt political commentary.
His emphasis on faith, charity, and hope, alongside criticism of economic systems that devalue human dignity, highlights key themes likely to shape his leadership. The revival of traditional practices, such as holding a Christmas Day Mass and delivering the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, signals continuity with earlier papacies.
Christmas 2025 is especially significant for Catholics as it also marks the close of the Jubilee Holy Year, a period of pilgrimage, renewal and reflection.
