Pope Leo XIV to preside over Christmas Day Mass at St Peter's. Pope Leo XIV will impart the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing at midday on Christmas Day, his first as pontiff, from the central loggia over St Peter's Square at the Vatican. The pope will celebrate "Midnight Mass" at 22.00 in St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. Despite its name, the Christmas Eve Mass has not been celebrated at midnight at the Vatican since 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI moved it to 22.00. On Christmas Day, Pope Leo will celebrate Mass at 10.00 in St Peter's. Leo has reintroduced the Christmas Day Mass, which was never celebrated by his predecessors, Francis and Benedict XIV, according to Vatican News. The last time a pope celebrated Christmas Day Mass in St Peter's was John Paul II in 1994. The Urbi et Orbi blessing will be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of Vatican Media. On Thursday 26 December, St Stephen's Day, Pope Leo will recite the Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square. For details of the pope's 2025 liturgical programme see the Vatican website. Photo credit: Ella_Ca / Shutterstock.com.