By Christopher Wells
Pope Leo XIV has a full schedule of liturgical celebrations scheduled for the coming months, with the Vatican looking ahead to the first Christmas with our new Pope.
On Tuesday, the Vatican’s Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff released the Pope’s schedule for November 2025 through January 2026.
Liturgical Celebrations in November
The Holy Father is set to proclaim St John Henry Newman as a Doctor of the Church during Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints, which will be celebrated in Saint Peter’s Square on Nov 1 in the context of the Jubilee of the World of Education.
Two days later, Pope Leo will offer a Requiem Mass for the repose of the souls of Francis and all Cardinals and Bishops who have died in the course of the past year.
On Nov 9, the Pope will travel across town to the Papal Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran for the Solemnity of Dedication of the Cathedral of Rome.
The Jubilee of the Poor, which takes place one week later on November 16, will be observed with a Mass celebrated by Pope Leo in St Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Leo will mark the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – the final Sunday of the liturgical calendar – with a Mass in St Peter’s Square, coinciding with the conclusion of the Jubilee of Choirs.
First Christmas with Pope Leo
During the season of Advent, which marks the beginning of the liturgical year, Pope Leo continues the tradition of celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, where he will lead the faithful in an Act of Veneration for Mary Immaculate.
That same week, on Dec 12, the Holy Father will offer Mass for the Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Vatican Basilica.
On the Third Sunday of Advent, Dec 14, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass in St Peter’s Basilica for the Jubilee of Prisoners.
The eagerly awaited first Christmas with Pope Leo will begin on Christmas Eve, with the celebration of Holy Mass “during the Night” in St Peter’s Basilica. The Midnight Mass will begin at 10 pm Rome time and will be broadcast live around the world.
On Christmas morning, the Pope will offer Mass “during the Day,” again in the Basilica of St Peter, before appearing on the Central Loggia of the church for the traditional Christmas Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” – of the City of Rome and of the whole World.
Ushering in the New Year
On New Year’s Eve, Dec 31, Pope Leo will preside at First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God (1 January). During the celebration, he will lead the faithful in the Te Deum, the Church’s hymn of thanksgiving par excellence, for the blessings of the previous year.
The following morning, the Holy Father will celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity, while also marking the 59th World Day of Peace.
The Season of Christmas continues into the new year, with Pope Leo celebrating the Solemnity of Epiphany, Jan 6, with Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. At the beginning of the liturgy, the Holy Father will solemnly close the Holy Door, marking the formal end of the 2025 Jubilee Year. The Holy Door will remain closed until the next Jubilee, planned for 2033 to mark the 2000th anniversary of the Redemption won by the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Finally, Pope Leo will close out the Christmas season with Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan 11, the first Sunday after Epiphany. During the liturgy in the Sistine Chapel, the Holy Father will baptise some babies, continuing a tradition begun by Pope St John Paul II.
The Vatican’s Calendar of Celebrations, listing ceremonies presided over by Pope Leo, can be found on the website of the Office for Liturgical Celebrations. For tickets for Papal Audiences and Celebrations, please visit the website of the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Tickets for papal celebrations are always free of charge. – Vatican News
