Pope Leo XIV's Christmas Prayer: A Call for Peace in Rome
In a festive display of faith and hope, Pope Leo XIV marked the start of the Christmas season with a special prayer for peace at the Spanish Steps in Rome on Monday, Dec 8. The Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception, also known as St Lucy's Day, is an annual tradition that sees thousands flock to the iconic landmark.
The American pope, dressed in his formal red mozzetta cape, greeted a crowd of thousands who braved the cold to catch a glimpse of him. As he left after praying at the foot of the statue of the Virgin Mary, Leo offered a bouquet of white roses and made a heartfelt appeal for peace. He drew on the millions who have gathered in Rome this year for the Holy Year pilgrimage, which led them to the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica.
His message was one of hope and unity: "After the Holy Doors, may other doors now open to homes and oases of peace where dignity can flourish once more, where nonviolence can be taught, and the art of reconciliation can be learned."
With Christmas just around the corner, Pope Leo XIV has a packed schedule. The Dec 24 Christmas Eve Mass will take place at its usual start time, marking a return to tradition after years of earlier start times.
Leo's first Christmas as pope promises to be one for the books, with a host of events planned including vespers on New Year's Eve, a New Year's Day Mass and blessing on Jan 1, and an Epiphany Mass on Jan 6 that will mark the official end of the Holy Year.
But Leo has not rested on his laurels – he has already announced plans for the next Jubilee in 2033, to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
In a festive display of faith and hope, Pope Leo XIV marked the start of the Christmas season with a special prayer for peace at the Spanish Steps in Rome on Monday, Dec 8. The Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception, also known as St Lucy's Day, is an annual tradition that sees thousands flock to the iconic landmark.
The American pope, dressed in his formal red mozzetta cape, greeted a crowd of thousands who braved the cold to catch a glimpse of him. As he left after praying at the foot of the statue of the Virgin Mary, Leo offered a bouquet of white roses and made a heartfelt appeal for peace. He drew on the millions who have gathered in Rome this year for the Holy Year pilgrimage, which led them to the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica.
His message was one of hope and unity: "After the Holy Doors, may other doors now open to homes and oases of peace where dignity can flourish once more, where nonviolence can be taught, and the art of reconciliation can be learned."
With Christmas just around the corner, Pope Leo XIV has a packed schedule. The Dec 24 Christmas Eve Mass will take place at its usual start time, marking a return to tradition after years of earlier start times.
Leo's first Christmas as pope promises to be one for the books, with a host of events planned including vespers on New Year's Eve, a New Year's Day Mass and blessing on Jan 1, and an Epiphany Mass on Jan 6 that will mark the official end of the Holy Year.
But Leo has not rested on his laurels – he has already announced plans for the next Jubilee in 2033, to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
i mean, i know pope leo XIV is american and all, but still it feels kinda weird that he's not italian lol anywayz, back to the prayer thingy... i think its pretty cool that he's calling for peace in rome, especially with the holy year pilgrimage happening this year 
the message of hope and unity really resonates with me, esp during exam season when we're all about stressing and being lowkey 
lets be real tho, who else is excited for the christmas break lol
A call for peace is always welcome, but gotta wonder if the Catholic Church is trying too hard to be relevant with these big events. I mean, a Christmas Eve Mass at 6 am? Really? Can't they just let people sleep in like normal? 
And another thing, why are they always making such a fuss about dates and anniversaries? It's all just a bit much for me... 
I'm still trying to get my head around the whole "Holy Year" thing... sounds like just another excuse for a big party in Rome? How many people actually make it through all that pilgrimage stuff? And what's with the different start times for Christmas Mass over the years? 
Doesn't it seem like they're just trying to keep things fresh and interesting?
but seriously can we talk about how these popes are always calling for peace while the rest of us are over here fighting wars and stuff 
anyways gotta give it to him, the message was pretty sweet, hope and unity is what we all need right now 
, but let's be real, Pope Leo's message is just what we need more of right now 
. Thousands flocking to the Spanish Steps every year is crazy, especially with the cold weather. I wonder if it's worth the hype? 
Still, I guess it's better than nothing, especially for those who are genuinely looking for a sense of calm in this chaotic world.
especially with his prayer at the spanish steps where he was talking about hope and unity... i mean i get it christmas time is all about love and kindness but shouldn't we be working towards that 365 days a year? 
also what's up with the holy doors thingy? is it like some kind of spiritual scavenger hunt or something? 
btw are the millions of people in rome this year pilgrims too? 