Pope Leo XIV marked his first Christmas Mass as the leader of the Catholic Church on Wednesday, addressing thousands of faithful who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
Despite rainy weather, around 5,000 people stood outside to follow the service on large screens, a display of their devotion to the Pope.
In his Christmas message, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the holiday is a time for “faith, charity, and hope.” He also criticized the “distorted economy” that dehumanizes people, turning them into mere commodities.
“We must remember that we are all God’s children, not just parts of a system that values profit over humanity,” he said.
Before the mass, the Pope appeared in front of St. Peter’s Basilica to offer his Christmas wishes. He acknowledged the large crowd, noting that while the basilica could not hold everyone, he was deeply moved by their presence. “St. Peter’s is very large, but unfortunately, it is not large enough to receive all of you,” he told the faithful.
The mass was a more reserved and traditional ceremony compared to the style of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who passed away earlier in the year.
Attended by church leaders, diplomats, and about 6,000 attendees, the service celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, one of the most important days in the Catholic Church.
The Pope, now 70 years old, took a more low-key approach compared to Pope Francis. While Pope Francis often held Christmas Mass around 6:30 PM GMT, Pope Leo chose a later time for the service.
This shift also reflected his intention to continue a tradition initiated by Pope John Paul II, who held a second Mass on Christmas Day itself.
On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV will hold a second mass and give the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing at 11:00 AM GMT. During this public address from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope traditionally speaks about global conflicts and calls for peace.
Pope Leo also expressed his concern about global conflicts, especially in Ukraine. He called for a worldwide truce on Christmas Day and voiced his disappointment that “Russia rejected a request” for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“I renew my call for peace,” Pope Leo said on Tuesday. “Let us all respect a day of peace, at least on the feast of our Savior’s birth.”
This Christmas also marks the end of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Holy Year, which has drawn millions of pilgrims to Rome throughout the year.
The Holy Year has been a time for reflection, pilgrimage, and renewal of faith, and the Pope acknowledged its importance in his message to the faithful.
With these words, Pope Leo XIV begins his first Christmas as the Pope, guiding the faithful with calls for peace, unity, and compassion during this holy season.
