The schedule is out

This morning, the Vatican Press Office published the timetable for the liturgical celebrations which will take place at the Vatican for the Christmas season.

The Holy Father will

• Preside at the celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord on Tuesday evening, December 24 inside the Vatican Basilica beginning at 9:30pm.  This celebration will be preceded by the singing of the Kalenda choir.
• Deliver his Christmas Message Urbi et Orbi and impart his Christmas Blessing on Christmas day at noon from the Central Loggia of the Vatican Basilica - the same place where he first appeared in March of this year following his election as Pope.
• Preside at the First Solemn Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God inside the Vatican Basilica beginning at 5:00pm.  Evening Prayer will be followed by a period of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the Te Deum to mark the end of the calendar year and the imparting of the Eucharistic Blessing.
• Preside at the celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God on Wednesday morning, January 1 inside the Vatican Basilica beginning at 10:00am.  This celebration will also commemorate the XLVII World Day of Peace which is focused on the theme: Fraternity, the foundation and the path to peace.  Earlier this month, the Holy Father issued a special Message to mark the World Day of Peace 2014.
• Preside at the celebration of Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany on Monday, January 6 inside the Vatican Basilica, beginning at 10:00am.