Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281237&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Newsroom, Dec 21, 2024 / 10:30 am (CNA).

Pope Francis delivered two Christmas messages at the Vatican on Saturday, warning against gossip's "destructive effects" while celebrating the importance of family life and humble service.

"An ecclesial community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony to the extent that its members walk in the way of humility, refusing to think and speak ill of one another," the pope said in his annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia on Dec. 21.

The pope warned that gossip "damages social bonds, poisons hearts, and leads nowhere," as he addressed cardinals and senior Vatican officials. He urged them to practice self-accusation rather than accusation of others, drawing on the teachings of early Christian spiritual masters.

The Vatican announced late Saturday that due to inclement weather and cold symptoms that manifested in recent days, Pope Francis will lead the Sunday Angelus prayer from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta rather than the usual Apostolic Palace window, also in view of next week's commitments.

Before beginning his reflection on Dec. 21, the pontiff addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, deploring suffering and "cruelty."

Praying together during Christmas season

In a separate address to Vatican employees and their families, the pope compared Vatican City to "a large beehive" bustling with activity in its streets, courtyards, corridors and offices. He thanked those working and unable to attend the gathering but made it possible.

The pope emphasized the theological virtue of humility, connecting it to the mystery of the Incarnation and particularly the Lord's birth. He encouraged Vatican workers to see their daily tasks as participating in "the hidden Nazareths of your particular tasks" that help bring humanity to Christ.

Speaking to employees and their families gathered in the Paul VI Hall, Francis stressed the importance of family life, particularly urging attention to grandparents. "Do you visit your grandparents? Are your grandparents living in the family, or do they live in a retirement home without anyone visiting them?" the pope asked.

He encouraged families to pray together during the Christmas season, particularly before the Nativity scene. "Without prayer one does not go forward, not even in the family," Francis said. "Teach your children to pray."

The pope described the Roman Curia as a "workshop" where various roles contribute to spreading God's blessings throughout the world. He emphasized that humble service reflects "the way of God Himself, who in Jesus condescends to share in our human condition."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281233&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 21, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The rite of opening the Holy Doors of the main basilicas of Rome to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee Year is perhaps one of the most solemn events of the Catholic Church, with centuries of tradition.

The pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of the papal basilicas in Rome is a central act of the jubilee. Passing through them during the holy year symbolizes entry into a new life in Christ and the beginning of a journey of conversion.

On Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. local time, Pope Francis will open the first and most important of them, that of St. Peter's Basilica, beginning the Jubilee of Hope 2025, in which 30 million people are expected to participate. Later that evening he will celebrate Christmas Mass, the Nativity of Our Lord.

With this gesture, the faithful around the world are invited to experience a renewed encounter with the "Lord Jesus, 'door' of salvation; with him, whom the Church has the mission to announce always, everywhere, and to everyone as 'our hope,'" says the bull of convocation of the Jubilee 2025.

On Dec. 26, the day after Christmas, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door in the Rebibbia prison in Our Father church.

In order to become a "pilgrim of hope," the pope will go to the Rebibbia prison to fulfill the recommendations contained in the bull Spes Non Confundit ("Hope Does Not Disappoint") "to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind."

In particular, the bull mentions "prisoners who, deprived of their freedom, daily feel the harshness of detention and its restrictions, lack of affection, and, in more than a few cases, lack of respect for their persons."

On Sunday, Dec. 29, the Holy Door of Rome's cathedral, St. John Lateran Basilica, will open, which on Nov. 9 celebrated the 1,700th anniversary of its dedication.

On Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis will also open the Holy Door of St. Mary Major Basilica.

The last door to open will be that of the fourth main basilica of the Eternal City, St. Paul Outside the Walls, on Jan. 5.

These latter will close on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, while the jubilee will officially conclude on Jan. 6, 2026, with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281232&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Newsroom, Dec 21, 2024 / 07:30 am (CNA).

The president of the German Bishops' Conference and the local bishop of Magdeburg have expressed their shock and offered prayers after a car attack at a Christmas market in eastern Germany on Friday left five people dead and more than 200 injured.

The "attack in Magdeburg leaves us speechless. The horror, grief, and sympathy are felt today by many people throughout Germany and worldwide," Bishop Georg Bätzing said, CNA Deutsch reported.

"Our thoughts and prayers are in Magdeburg during these hours. As churches, we mourn with the relatives of the victims of this terrible attack and pray for the injured and the deceased, as well as for their relatives who now fear for their loved ones."

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg issued a statement immediately after the attack on Friday evening local time: "I think of those affected, their relatives, and the emergency services and include them in my prayers."

The local bishop added, "especially in these days and before a feast where the message of God's love, human dignity, and the longing for a healed world particularly move us, such an act is all the more frightening and abysmal."

Feige also emphasized that the attack presented "a challenge for our society to counter any extremism even more decisively and to work even more for peaceful coexistence."

In his joint statement with the Lutheran organization EKD, Bätzing expressed gratitude to the "committed emergency services who have been caring for the injured since yesterday and are working under high pressure to clarify what happened, as well as to the emergency chaplains who are standing by the people in this moment and accompanying the traumatized."

Suspect came from Saudi Arabia

The attack took place shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday when a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia drove a black rental car into crowds at a Christmas market in the heart of Magdeburg, a city of 240,000 people about two hours west of Berlin by car.

The suspect, identified as Taleb A., came to Germany in 2006 and had at one time worked as a psychotherapist, according to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. He had been granted indefinite leave to remain in Germany after applying for asylum, citing threats in his home country.

In a 2019 interview with the Frankfurter Rundschau, the suspect had described himself as an "ex-Muslim."

German media on Saturday reported that the man had acted increasingly erratically on social media in recent months, threatening bloodshed and "war" on German authorities.

The Diocese of Magdeburg announced that St. Sebastian's Cathedral would be open for prayer and reflection on Saturday. A memorial service will be held at Magdeburg Cathedral on Saturday at 7 p.m., local broadcaster MDR reported.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited the city earlier in the day to meet with local officials and pay their respects at the site of the attack.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281227&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2024 / 15:55 pm (CNA).

A car driven by a Saudi Arabian immigrant rammed into a crowd at a Christmas market Friday evening in the central German city of Magdeburg, killing at least two people, according to media reports.

Police in Magdeburg, a city of 240,000 about two hours west of Berlin by car, have not yet released official details about whether the incident was a terrorist attack. The regional governor, Reiner Haseloff, told the media that the suspect is a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian citizen who has worked in Germany as a doctor since 2006.

German news sources reported that the driver of the car was taken into custody. AFP News Agency, citing emergency services, said that between 60 to 80 people were injured.

Magdeburg Police said on social media simply that "extensive police operations are currently taking place" at the market and "further reports will be made."

Magdeburg is known as the city where St. Norbert — whose legacy lives on through the worldwide Norbertine (or Premonstratensian) order — served as archbishop until his death in 1134. 

A German official had in November called for "vigilance" at Christmas markets this year amid a heightened security situation more broadly, though no concrete threats were identified at that time. Germany's BfV domestic security agency said Christmas markets could be targeted due to their "symbolism" related to "Christian values" and as an "embodiment of Western culture and way of life."

The incident in Magdeburg took place almost exactly eight years after more than a dozen people were killed when a truck driven by an Islamic extremist rammed into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market. That attacker fled and was later killed in a shootout with police in Italy.

In November 2023, two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, were arrested in Germany on suspicion of terrorism. They reportedly sympathized with the Islamic State and were believed to have planned a Christmas market attack using a vehicle, CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-language news partner, reported earlier this year.

And in April, German authorities reported the arrest of four suspects allegedly planning terror attacks to target Christians attending church services and police stations with knives and Molotov cocktails.

This story was updated Dec. 20, 2024, at 5:35 p.m. ET with information about the driver of the car.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281226&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 20, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Designs for six new stained-glass windows at Notre Dame have been revealed for the first time, two weeks after the historic cathedral reopened following a devastating fire in April 2019.

The windows in six chapels on the southern side of the cathedral will be replaced with new windows designed by modern French painter Claire Tabouret. According to a report from RTE, the French state is paying $4 million to install the windows, which will be made by French stained-glass maker Simon-Marq.

The original windows, created in the 19th century by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, had escaped the fire without damage. Several historic preservation groups have protested President Emmanuel Macron's decision to replace them, including Sites et Monuments and Tribune de l'art, whose site manager launched a petition against the new windows that has garnered 244,833 signatures.

Born in France in 1981, Tabouret graduated from École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 2006. Her paintings and sculptures have been featured in museums across the globe in France, Hong Kong, and Venice. She has also collaborated with luxury designers such as Dior. Tabouret currently lives and works in Los Angeles, according to her website. 

Tabouret's turquoise, pink, yellow, and red windows feature images of people from various cultural backgrounds celebrating Pentecost. 

In response to debates surrounding modernist updates to the historic Catholic cathedral, Tabouret stated during a press conference at the cathedral: "I've read about different opinions of people because I want to understand their arguments and also to take an approach that is open and two-way." 

"I find it a fascinating debate," she said. "We need to remain in movement, we need to be confident in our era and show confidence in contemporary artists." 

The doors of the newly restored Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral were officially reopened to the public during a ceremony on Dec. 7, just over five years after a blaze ravaged the iconic structure's roof, frame, and spire.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai of Antioch were among the 170 bishops from France and around the world who attended the ceremony, which featured a message from Pope Francis, who did not travel for the occasion.

The rector of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Friday blessed the Nativity scene at the historic French landmark church ahead of the first Christmas celebrations since its restoration. 

"You know, for the past 10 days, we've been feeling very joyful," stated Monsignor Olivier Ribadeau Dumas during the ceremony. "My greatest joy is to see people happy because they have a cathedral again, not only because they see these stones again but also because it's a place for prayer that they got back."

The windows are expected to be installed in 2026. 

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281225&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2024 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

A Florida woman was convicted on Thursday for conspiracy targeting pro-life pregnancy resource centers, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday. 

Gabriella Oropesa was convicted "for her role in a conspiracy to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate employees of pro-life pregnancy help centers in the free exercise of the right to provide and seek to provide reproductive health services," read the Dec. 20 DOJ press release. 

Oropesa was convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which has been used in the past to allegedly target pro-life activists for blocking clinic entrances. The FACE Act prohibits "violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services." 

Many pro-life activists have been sentenced under the FACE Act in recent years, including several elderly people, a young mother, and a Catholic priest. House Republican lawmakers discussed repealing the FACE Act earlier this week after hearing testimony alleging the law has been weaponized against pro-life protesters.

Oropesa and three co-conspirators had vandalized pregnancy health centers that provided alternatives to abortion with threatening messages. Caleb Freestone, Amber Stewart-Smith, and Annarella Rivera previously pleaded guilty for their involvement.

The four had vandalized a series of pro-life pregnancy help centers in Florida, spray-painting threatening messages such as "If abortions aren't safe than niether [sic] are you," "YOUR TIME IS UP!!", "WE'RE COMING for U," and "We are everywhere." 

"The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act is clear: No one should have to face threats and intimidation just for doing their job," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. 

"The Justice Department will continue to ensure access to the full spectrum of reproductive health services afforded to the public, whether those services include abortion or counseling on alternatives to abortion," Clarke continued. 

U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida reiterated that reproductive health clinic access is protected by federal law.  

"Federal law protects providers who render reproductive health care and those who seek their services," Handberg said in a statement. "Threats of violence against pregnancy resource centers or those exercising their rights to care will not be tolerated."

A sentence hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2025. Oropesa will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, according to the DOJ. 

The case involved investigation from the FBI's Tampa field office as well as local police departments.  

At one pregnancy center in Hialeah, Florida, Heartbeat of Miami, the vandalism resulted in thousands of dollars in damages. The Archdiocese of Miami's Hollywood pregnancy center and the South Broward Pregnancy Help Center, located just north of Miami, were also targeted. At South Broward, the words "Jane's revenge" and an anarchist symbol were also graffitied on the property.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281224&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 20, 2024 / 18:00 pm (CNA).

In his first public Mass, celebrated in Seville province, Spain, Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who has been living in exile in Rome since January, prayed for his "beloved Nicaragua" and offered his pectoral cross to Our Lady of Sorrows.

"For me it is a pleasure, a joy, and above all a blessing to be celebrating among you this holy Eucharist in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, in the memory of Our Lady of Hope, Our Expecting Lady, of sweet waiting, and I must also say, on the eve of the 100 years of the canonical foundation of my blessed and beloved Diocese of Matagalpa in Nicaragua," the prelate said in his homily.

The Diocese of Matagalpa was founded on Dec. 19, 1924, during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI.

"We pray for you in this beautiful town of wonderful people and for our beloved Nicaragua," added the bishop of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Estelí, as seen in a video by 100% Noticias Nicaragua.

In Our Lady of the Orchards Parish in the town of Puebla de Los Infantes in Seville province, the Nicaraguan bishop recalled in his homily some passages from Pope Francis' letter earlier this month to the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which is suffering tenacious persecution by the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and "co-president," Rosario Murillo.

"Don't forget the loving providence of the Lord that accompanies us and is the only central guide, precisely in the most difficult moments when it becomes humanly impossible to understand what God wants from us, we are called not to forget his care and mercy," the Holy Father said in the text read by Álvarez.

"Be certain that faith and hope perform miracles. Let us turn our gaze to the Immaculate Virgin: She is the shining witness of this trust; you have always experienced her eternal protection in all your needs and you have shown your gratitude with a very beautiful and spiritually rich religiosity," the pontiff added in the cited text.

Álvarez also read a passage from the 2020 letter Patris Corde, which Pope Francis wrote for the Year of St. Joseph: "In every situation, Joseph declared his own 'fiat,' like those of Mary at the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. … The Gospel tells us that God always manages to save what is important, on the condition that we have the same creative courage as the carpenter of Nazareth, who knew how to transform a problem into an opportunity, always putting his trust in providence first."

To conclude his homily, the bishop prayed that "Mary, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of Sorrows, would keep us expectant for the imminent coming of her son. Amen."

The pectoral cross for Our Lady of Sorrows

At the end of the Mass, Álvarez offered his pectoral cross, one of the distinctive symbols of the bishops of the Catholic Church, to Our Lady of Sorrows as represented by her image in the church.

"I want to make this gesture of love, leaving the Sorrowful Virgin my pectoral cross, and I would like all my faithful from Matagalpa, from the countryside, and the city to be able to contemplate this, telling them that from La Puebla de los Infantes I am praying for them," the prelate said.

"And I am making this gesture of love for them, for the Lord, for the Church, for the Most Holy Virgin. I hope that the Brotherhood of Our Lady will keep this pectoral cross in her hands, in a place where you believe it is appropriate, on this date that is memorable for us, very memorable," he emphasized.

Who is Bishop Rolando Álvarez?

Beginning on Aug. 4, 2022, Álvarez was confined to his residence by Nicaraguan riot police. He was accompanied by several priests, seminarians, and a layman.

Two weeks later, when they had almost run out of food, the police broke into the house and abducted Álvarez, taking him to Managua, the country's capital.

In the midst of a controversial trial, the dictatorship sentenced him on Feb. 10, 2023, to 26 years and four months in prison, accusing him of being a "traitor to the country." He was held in La Modelo prison where political prisoners are sent.

One day before being sentenced, Álvarez had refused the chance to board a plane carrying more than 200 political prisoners to be deported to the United States.

The bishop was finally deported to Rome on Jan. 14 through Vatican mediation, along with the bishop of Siuna, Isidoro Mora, other priests, and seminarians.

By decision of Pope Francis, Álvarez was one of the members of the Synod of Synodality held in October in the Vatican.

More detailed information on the life and struggles of the bishop can be found here.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281216&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 20, 2024 / 12:15 pm (CNA).

Many women who undergo chemical abortions experience more pain than they were prepared for and more than 40% go through "severe" pain, according to a peer-reviewed study of British women conducted by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS).

The study, published in the BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health online journal, notes that women who seek out chemical abortions are often advised that the pain from chemical abortions will be similar to "period pain," but the researchers note that the pain experienced can vary widely and be much more severe.

"Many felt unprepared for the level of pain they experienced," the study notes, adding that in many cases, there is "a lack of detailed, realistic anticipatory pain counseling."

The survey found that 48.5% of respondents experienced more pain than they expected. About 92% of the women who underwent chemical abortions rated their pain level at least "4" on a scale of 1 to 10, with 41.5% rating their pain as "8" or higher, which designates "severe" pain.

According to the study, some women told researchers that the pain described in consultations or information leaflets was "washed over," "downplayed," or "sugarcoated." 

"The pain was intense and constant, in my lower back," one of the women explained. "It hurt so much that it made me throw up several times. I felt shaky and faint at points."

"Pain was so much stronger than period pain," another woman described. "It was like having contractions in labor. I've given birth three times and the pain really wasn't too much different from that pain, the cramping contraction pain."

Another woman surveyed told researchers "the pain was really a lot worse than I expected, perhaps because it was compared to bad period pain and my periods have always been fairly pain-free."

"Pain was so severe, and yet everything I read or heard, and what little there was about the pain on the internet was [that] it was slight cramping, like a bad period … [which] couldn't be further from the truth," she continued. 

"… The amount of pain you could go through is completely played down. … I understand they probably don't want to scare many women, but I'd rather know how bad the pain can get."

The researchers wrote in the study that "setting realistic expectations" about pain levels is needed for women to support "informed" decisions.

"Benchmarking against period pain has long been used as a way to describe the pain associated with medical abortion, despite the wide variability of period pain experienced," Hannah McCulloch, the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

"For many respondents, using period pain as a reference point for what to expect was not helpful for managing expectations, or in line with their experiences," she added.

Nearly 1,600 women who underwent chemical abortions in England and Wales responded to the survey. Chemical abortions are prescribed for British women up to 10 weeks' gestation, which is the same standard approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

At 10 weeks' gestation, an unborn child has a fetal heartbeat, early brain activity, and partially developed eyes, lips, and nostrils. The abortion pill mifepristone kills the child by blocking the hormone progesterone, which cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients. A second pill, misoprostol, expels the child's body from the mother, essentially inducing labor.

Pro-life pregnancy resource centers often offer abortion pill reversal (APR) medicine, which is meant to reverse the effects of mifepristone by increasing progesterone levels.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281215&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2024 / 12:45 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis has appointed a new bishop to lead the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, more than a year after the Holy See removed its Bishop Joseph Strickland amid questions over management of the diocese. 

Dallas Auxiliary Bishop J. Gregory Kelly will lead the Tyler Diocese, apostolic nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre said on Friday. 

He will take over diocesan leadership from Austin Bishop Joe Vásquez, who has served as apostolic administrator in Tyler since last year. 

Pope Francis relieved Strickland from the Tyler bishopric last November after an apostolic visitation concluded it was "not feasible" for Strickland to remain in that position. Strickland had days earlier refused to submit his resignation voluntarily.

Strickland, 65, had served as bishop of Tyler since 2012. The widely popular though polarizing Texas bishop had faced criticism for his firebrand social media posts, including a tweet last year that suggested Pope Francis was "undermining the deposit of faith." 

'I am grateful for this new responsibility'

The Texas Catholic, the newspaper for the Diocese of Dallas, said on Friday that Kelly will be installed in Tyler on Feb. 24, 2025. 

"I am grateful for this new responsibility and will do my best to serve the priests, deacons, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of Tyler," the paper quoted Kelly as saying. 

The bishop-elect was born on Feb. 15, 1956, in Le Mars, Iowa. He received a degree in philosophy from the University of Dallas while in priestly formation at Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas. He later received a master of divinity from the university. 

He was ordained in the Dallas Diocese on May 15, 1982, by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe. He served in numerous roles throughout the diocese, including as pastor at multiple churches and as the chaplain at the University of Dallas. From 2008 to 2016 he served as the vicar of clergy for the Dallas Diocese.

In 2016 he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of the diocese, where he has served since. He also serves as the vicar general and moderator of the curia. 

His other responsibilities have included serving as the diocesan vocations director and as a member of the diocesan review board. He also served as apostolic administrator there from 2016–2017. 

Dallas Bishop Edward Burns said on Friday that the pope "has chosen a loyal and committed bishop to serve in the Diocese of Tyler," though he said that "our beloved brother will be missed here in the Diocese of Dallas."

"We acknowledge that Pope Francis has chosen a man who possesses the heart of the Good Shepherd and will serve the people of God in the Diocese of Tyler well," Burns said. 

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=8838&view=post&articleid=281214&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Rome Newsroom, Dec 20, 2024 / 13:35 pm (CNA).

Rome during the Christmas season is a feast for the senses. Twinkling lights drape over the city's cobblestone streets, towering Christmas trees adorn piazzas, and Nativity scenes beckon from churches and storefronts alike.

Against this dazzling backdrop, the first pilgrims for the Catholic Church's 2025 Jubilee, which begins on Christmas Eve, have the unique opportunity to enjoy the Eternal City's many Christmas traditions. 

Pope Francis will open five jubilee Holy Doors in the Christmas season between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6.

And 38-year-old Immaculate Atieno, a jubilee pilgrim from Nairobi, Kenya, is hoping to witness all of the solemn door openings with the pope.

"It's worth it," Atieno told CNA. "This is a once-in-every-25-years thing to do. So why not give it your all?"

Atieno brought with her a long list of prayer intentions from family and friends in Africa in addition to her desire to pray for the needs of the world as she receives her jubilee indulgence.

"We are at a time where the world really needs lots of prayers," she explained. "That is why we put forth our prayers, also praying for the intentions of the Holy Father in this time and remembering others."

Jubilee pilgrims spending the Christmas season in Rome will also get to enjoy the Italian capital's many culinary delights, including the ubiquitous Christmas bread, panettone.

Panettone, the egg-rich, butter-laden Italian bread speckled with candied fruit, is everywhere — stacked in brightly wrapped boxes in grocery stores, showcased in bakery windows, and served in slices at cafes. Some bakeries have taken things up a notch, crafting edible Nativity scenes out of panettone and chocolate.

And while many Italian families will sit down to elaborate seafood feasts on Christmas Eve, pilgrims and locals alike enjoy wandering through the city's streets, soaking in the holiday atmosphere.

A group of Catholic sisters from Indonesia took in the lights of Via del Corso and snapped photos at the Spanish Steps, where a modern Christmas tree sparkled against the historic landmark.

"Every store, every church has also prepared really wonderful decorations to welcome in Christmas," Sister Angela of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary told CNA.

"I'm really excited to be welcoming the jubilee here. I'm also feeling so lucky because this year will be the opening of the holy doors."

Her companion, Sister Tarcisia, shared that she is praying for all of the jubilee pilgrims who will be coming to Rome during the Christmas season as well as for people in the world to experience peace and justice.

This year, large Christmas trees are displayed in Rome's Piazza di Popolo, the Spanish Steps, and St. Peter's Square.

Pilgrims strolling through Piazza Navona can browse Rome's small-scale Christmas market, where vendors sell Nativity figurines, ornaments, and Befana dolls — Italy's traditional Christmas witch. 

Over in St. Peter's Square, visitors marvel at the Vatican's grand Nativity scene, which this year features a replica of the lagoon of Grado, a picturesque Italian town on the Adriatic Sea.

Under Bernini's colonnade, the Vatican's "100 Nativity Scenes" exhibit draws visitors with its international collection, including Nativities made from coral, pine cones, papier-mâché, and even pasta.

Nearby the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle also showcases an array of Nativity scenes and the Basilica of Saints Cosma and Damiano features a monumental display of historic Neapolitan figurines.

At the Basilica of St. Mary Major, pilgrims can venerate a relic of Christ's manger and pray at the site where St. Cajetan had a vision of the Virgin Mary handing him the infant Jesus. 

For those willing to venture beyond Rome, Assisi is illuminated during the Christmas season with light displays of Giotto's famous frescoes, while the nearby town of Greccio is the site of the first Nativity scene created by St. Francis.

For Atieno, the spiritual aspect of the season is central to her pilgrimage. She said her favorite Christmas tradition is the great homilies that she looks forward to every Advent and Christmas. 

"It's a time when we have to remember peace, joy, and prepare ourselves to welcome Our Lord," she said.

Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday on Dec. 17, has a packed liturgical schedule for the first few weeks of the jubilee. 

On Christmas Eve, he will preside over the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica at 7 p.m. followed by the Christmas "Mass during the Night."

Pilgrims unable to secure tickets for the Christmas Eve Mass told CNA that they plan to gather in St. Peter's Square, hoping to witness the historic opening of the Holy Door from outside.

The following day, Francis will deliver his "urbi et orbi" blessing to the city and the world from the basilica's central balcony.

The pope's jubilee itinerary also includes opening the Holy Door at Rome's Rebibbia prison on  the Dec. 26 feast of St. Stephen; at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran on the Dec. 29 feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; at St. Mary Major on the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; and at St. Paul Outside the Walls on Jan. 5.

Pope Francis asked pilgrims to spiritually prepare for Christmas in his last general audience before the start of the jubilee.

"Christmas is now here and I'd like to think that there is a Nativity scene in your homes," the pope said. "This important element of our spirituality and culture is a wonderful, wonderful way to remember Jesus who came to dwell among us."

Praying alongside pilgrims crowded inside the Vatican hall, Pope Francis asked the "Prince of Peace" for his grace and peace to fill the world.

Full Article