Roman parishioners will celebrate Mass with the Pope

On Friday morning, the Director of the Vatican Press Office announced that the Holy Father's daily Mass, a tradition which he began after his election to the papacy, will now be open to parishioners from the various parishes in Rome.

Beginning in January 2014, Cardinal Agostino Valini, the Vicar of His Holiness for Rome will inform pastors in that diocese about the procedure they should follow in order to express their desire to attend the Mass along with a group of about twenty-five of their parishioners.   For the past months, the papal Mass has been attended by Vatican employees.

This initiative will allow the people of Rome to interact with their Bishop.  Given his other responsibilities, it is not possible for the Holy Father to visit all the parishes in the diocese of Rome.