Advent 2012: Christmas schedule of Pope Benedict XVI 2012

30 Nov 2012

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will preside at the following liturgies during Christmas 2012. Please note that a written request to receive the transmission of the Mass being celebrated by the Holy Father on 1 January 2013, World Day of Peace, must be made to the offices of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications ([email protected]) by 15 December 2012.

DECEMBER 2012

  • Saturday 1: At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, First Vespers for the first Sunday of Advent with students of Roman and Pontifical universities.
  • Saturday 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 4 p.m. in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, homage to Mary Immaculate.
  • Sunday 16: Third Sunday of Advent, pastoral visit to the Roman parish of “San Patrizio al Colle Prenestino”. At 9 a.m., celebration of the Eucharist.
  • Monday 24: Vigil of the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. At 10 p.m., Mass in the Vatican Basilica.
  • Tuesday 25: Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. At midday from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.
  • Saturday 29: At 6 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, prayer presided by the Holy Father with young people participating in a European meeting organised by the Taize Community.
  • Monday 31: At 5 p.m. in the Vatican Basilica, First Vespers and “Te Deum” of thanksgiving for the past year.

JANUARY 2013

  • Tuesday 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and forty-sixth World Day of Peace. Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m.
  • Sunday 6: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Mass in the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m.
  • Sunday 13: Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Mass in the Sistine Chapel at 9.45 a.m., conferment of the Sacrament of Baptism upon a number of children.

Notes to Editors

The Pontifical Council for Social Communications has the responsibility of coordinating the worldwide telecasts of Papal ceremonies at Christmas and Easter, in addition to extraordinary celebrations and events broadcast around the world. The telecasts are often made freely available through a network of satellites from which television networks and outlets can receive and transmit the events to their own local, national or international audiences. The broadcasts are a coproduction of the Vatican Television Center (CTV) and Italy’s public broadcaster Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI). The background information provided below is intended as a service and resource for television broadcasters and commentators.

Television Commentaries from the Vatican in English, Spanish and French will be offered on the satellite audio channels of Eurovision World Feed. Details concerning the various satellites and frequencies will be posted on the Pontifical Council for Social Communications website (www.pccs.it/tj/telecasts.htm), in addition to texts and background information for television producers and commentators. For those unable to receive the broadcasts through the above service providers, alternative satellite reception possibilities can be explored.

For all enquiries: Pontifical Council for Social Communications (Thaddeus Jones). Tel +39 06 698 91810; fax +39 06 698 91840; email [email protected]; web: www.pccs.it/tj/telecasts.htm.