Christmas Schedule of the Holy Father, Pope Francis 2013

18 Dec 2013

Christmas Schedule of the Holy Father, Pope Francis 2013

The Holy Father Pope Francis will preside at the following liturgies during Christmas 2013:

Tuesday 24 December: Midnight Mass presided over by Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Basilica. (20:30 – 22:30 GMT).

Wednesday 25 December: Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord. At midday from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, Christmas Message and Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (11.00 GMT).

Wednesday 1 January:  Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and forty-seventh World Day of Peace. Mass presided over by Pope Francis in the Vatican Basilica (09:00 – 11:30).

All the events at which Pope Francis presides may be viewed on the portal www.news.va. Furthermore, the smartphone or tablet application The Pope App provides continuous information on the Holy Father.

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.

For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444