Pope's Christmas Eve Mass Also Reduced to '1/100' Scale Due to COVID-19 Impact

Limited to 100 People Under COVID-19 Lockdown
Pope's Christmas Blessing Message Also Live-Streamed Online

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican in Rome has significantly scaled down the size of events such as the annual Christmas Eve Mass. The Christmas blessing message is also scheduled to be posted online.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press, Pope Francis presided over the Christmas Eve Mass on the 24th (local time) at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. This year's Mass was held modestly for about an hour starting at 7:30 p.m., two hours earlier than usual. Unlike previous years when about 10,000 people including ordinary believers, diplomatic corps, and clergy gathered at the basilica, attendance was limited to around 100 people this year. The Vatican restricted the number of attendees considering the spread of COVID-19.

Italian health authorities imposed a second nationwide high-intensity lockdown temporarily from that day to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the Christmas holidays, but worship was exceptionally allowed so that a small number of ordinary believers could attend. Reflecting the greatly reduced number of attendees, the Mass was held not at the central altar but on one side at the back of the basilica.

In his homily, the Pope emphasized, "Jesus also came into the world to reveal that all the poor and abandoned are children of God," and added, "The Lord always cherishes us with love greater than what we have. That is the secret of the Lord entering our hearts." He continued, "As we celebrate Christmas, I hope we take time to reflect on the injustices faced by our brothers and sisters around us, instead of pursuing endless greed and fleeting pleasures."

The Pope's blessing message, which is read every year at noon on the 25th, will also be read inside the basilica rather than from the usual 'Blessing Balcony' on the second floor of St. Peter's Basilica, and will be broadcast live online.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.