Pope Leo XIV venerates a statue of the Child Jesus during the celebration of Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday. The Mass was attended by an estimated 6,000 people inside the basilica, while around 5,000 people gathered outside in St. Peter's Square, according to the Vatican.

Below is the full text of the pope’s Christmas night homily:

Dear brothers and sisters,

For millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky, giving names to the silent stars, and seeing images therein. In their imaginative yearning, they tried to read the future in the heavens, seeking on high for a truth that was absent below amidst their homes. Yet, as if grasping in the dark, they remained lost, confounded by their own oracles. On this night, however, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:2).

Behold the star that astonishes the world, a spark newly lit and blazing with life: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Into time and space — in our midst — comes the One without whom we would not exist. He who gives his life for us lives among us, illuminating the night with his light of salvation. There is no darkness that this star does not illumine, for by its light all humanity beholds the dawn of a new and eternal life.

It is the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel. In the Son made man, God gives us nothing less than his very self, in order to “redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own” (Titus 2:14). Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night. The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.

The clear sign given to a darkened world is indeed “a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). To find the Savior, one must not gaze upward, but look below: the omnipotence of God shines forth in the powerlessness of a newborn; the eloquence of the eternal

Word resounds in an infant’s first cry; the holiness of the Spirit gleams in that small body, freshly washed and wrapped in swaddling clothes. The need for care and warmth becomes divine since the Son of the Father shares in history with all his brothers and sisters. The divine light radiating from this Child helps us to recognize humanity in every new life.

To heal our blindness, the Lord chooses to reveal himself in each human being, who reflect his true image, according to a plan of love begun at the creation of the world. As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then “there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger” (Benedict XVI, Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2012).

These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. To refuse one is to refuse the other. Yet, where there is room for the human person, there is room for God; even a stable can become more sacred than a temple, and the womb of the Virgin Mary become the Ark of the New Covenant.

Let us marvel, dear brothers and sisters, at the wisdom of Christmas. In the Child Jesus, God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all. He does not give us a clever solution to every problem, but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child

to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world. As Saint Augustine observed, “human pride weighed

you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again” (Saint Augustine, Sermon 188, III, 3). While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person. While humanity seeks to become “god” in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?

The answer will come as soon as we wake up from a deadly night into the light of new life, and, like the shepherds, contemplate the Child Jesus. Above the stable of Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph watch over the newborn Child with hearts full of wonder, the starry sky is transformed into “a multitude of the heavenly host” (Lk 2:13). These are unarmed and disarming hosts, for they sing of the glory of God, of which peace on earth is the true manifestation (cf. v. 14). Indeed, in the heart of Christ beats the bond of love that unites heaven and earth, Creator and creatures.

For this reason, exactly one year ago, Pope Francis affirmed that the Nativity of Jesus rekindles in us the “gift and task of bringing hope wherever hope has been lost,” because “with him, joy flourishes; with him, life changes; with him, hope does not disappoint” (Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2024). With these words, the Holy Year began. Now, as the Jubilee draws to a close, Christmas becomes for us a time of gratitude and mission; gratitude for the gift received, and mission to bear witness to it before the world. As the Psalmist sings: “Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples” (Ps 96:2–3).

Brothers and sisters, contemplation of the Word made flesh awakens in the whole Church a new and true proclamation. Let us therefore announce the joy of Christmas, which is a feast of faith, charity and hope. It is a feast of faith, because God becomes man, born of the Virgin. It is a feast of charity, because the gift of the redeeming Son is realized in fraternal self-giving. It is a feast of hope, because the Child Jesus kindles it within us, making us messengers of peace. With these virtues in our hearts, unafraid of the night, we can go forth to meet the dawn of a new day.

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Mass during the Night in a packed St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV, at Christmas Mass during the Night, said Christ’s birth brings light into the world’s darkness — and where the human person is welcomed, God is welcomed too.

“To enlighten our blindness, the Lord chose to reveal himself as a man to man, his true image, according to a plan of love that began with the creation of the world,” the pope said in his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 24.

“As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then ‘there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger,’” he added, quoting Pope Benedict XIV’s homily at Christmas Mass on Dec. 24, 2012.

“These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person,” the pontiff said.

Leo celebrated the Christmas Mass, also known as Midnight Mass, for a packed Vatican basilica at 10 p.m. The Vatican said an estimated 6,000 people were inside the basilica for the Mass, while another 5,000 people followed the papal Mass via jumbo screens in St. Peter’s Square.

In a surprise before the Mass, the pope stepped outside St. Peter’s Basilica to greet those who were forced to stay in the rainy square, because there was no more room inside.

“The basilica of St. Peter’s is very large, but unfortunately it is not large enough to receive all of you,” Leo said, thanking everyone for their presence, wishing them a merry Christmas, and bestowing his apostolic blessing.

The preparatory readings and the sung Proclamation of the Birth of Christ — also called the Kalenda Proclamation — preceded the Mass. The pontiff removed a cloth to reveal a wooden sculpture of the Christ Child, placed in front of the main altar of the basilica, after the chanting of the Kalenda Proclamation. A group of 10 children dressed in traditional clothing from different parts of the world brought flowers to the figure of Baby Jesus.

In his homily, the pope recalled that, “for millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky” attempting to read the future in the stars. 

Yet, they remained lost and in the dark, he said. “On this night, however, ‘the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’ (Isaiah 9:2).”

“Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night,” Leo said. “The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.

Pope Leo invited Christians to marvel at the wisdom of Christmas, through which “God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all.”

“He does not give us a clever solution to every problem, but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world,” he said.

The pontiff quoted a sermon of St. Augustine, who said, “human pride weighed you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again.”

“While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person,” Leo said. “While humanity seeks to become ‘god’ in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?”

Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice celebrates Mass with homeless and people in need at the Archdiocesan Charity in Košice, Slovakia, during a traditional Christmas gathering in December 2025. / Credit: Archdiocesan Charity of Košice

EWTN News, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:00 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, Slovakia, found a special gift under the Christmas tree. It was a new “cathedra,” a wooden bench prepared by homeless people in a charity workshop. Benches are also associated with people living on the margins of society.

The traditional Christmas gathering began with a Mass inside one of the buildings of the Archdiocesan Charity in Košice, the second-largest city in Slovakia. After the Mass, the prelate, who also serves as president of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, joined those in need for goulash and other seasonal meals.

“Christmas is not just about the Nativity scene,” Bober said, but mainly about people — getting together, acceptance, and mutual closeness.

“It is precisely people who have a difficult fate… who need to feel at this time that they are not alone, that they are accepted, and that they have their place among us,” he said.

Such gatherings have a strong human dimension and help release tension, build trust, and enter the new year with hope, according to a press release the Archdiocesan Charity sent to CNA. 

The bench was made in a charity workshop where those in need gain and improve manual skills, helping them enter the job market. Besides the bench, they gave the archbishop flowers, handmade decorations, ikebana, and soap. The gifts were also given to mark his recent 75th birthday on Nov. 3. 

“We do not want these holidays to be just a nice tradition, but a call to responsibility, too,” the Archdiocesan Charity of Košice said. The organization invites public officials to such events so they can see the reality facing the homeless and “feel greater sensitivity when deciding on solutions that can ensure a more dignified life for them.” 

The birthday celebration was another gift for Bober, who reached canonical retirement age. In early November, his birthday coincided with a local Jubilee of Young People in Košice. In front of the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth, approximately 25,000 people greeted the prelate and enjoyed a concert by the Godzone evangelization band and a party led by Portuguese priest and DJ Father Guilherme Peixoto. 

Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to the participants, calling them to be “witnesses of communion, builders of bridges, and sowers of trust in a world often marked by division and suspicion.” 

“Jesus calls you... to live the Gospel with enthusiasm and to share the joy that springs from encountering the Lord,” the pope said. “Bring the light of Christ into your families, schools, universities, workplaces, and communities.” 

Field visit in the disaster zone in December 2025: Father Fredy Rante Taruk (executive director of Caritas Indonesia), and Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia. / Credit: Caritas Indonesia

EWTN News, Dec 24, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).

After deadly floods and landslides left millions affected across Sumatra, the Catholic Church in Indonesia is mounting an emergency relief effort while Church leaders warn that decades of deforestation have turned the island into an environmental catastrophe.

Following a powerful cyclone in November, disaster struck three provinces in particular — Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Floods and landslides affected communities across the Archdiocese of Medan and its suffragan dioceses.

Amid the widespread destruction, Caritas Indonesia has emerged as a central pillar of the Church’s humanitarian response. According to its executive director, Father Fredy Rante Taruk, the organization is prioritizing lifesaving assistance for communities impacted by flooding and landslides caused by Cyclone Senyar.

Speaking to CNA, he said the immediate focus is on “ensuring access to food, temporary shelter, clean water, sanitation, hygiene services, and essential health care,” especially for displaced families and vulnerable groups in the Diocese of Sibolga, North Sumatra.

As of Dec. 21, official figures indicate that more than 3.3 million people across Sumatra have been affected, with roughly 1 million forced to flee their homes. Authorities report 1,090 deaths, 186 people missing, and approximately 7,000 injured. More than 147,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, and economic losses are estimated at around $19.8 billion.

Relief efforts have been hampered by severe infrastructure damage. Collapsed bridges and washed‑out roads have made access to many towns and villages difficult, delaying the movement of humanitarian teams and essential supplies. Despite these challenges, Caritas Indonesia has continued to mobilize parish‑based shelters, operate communal kitchens, and deploy mobile health services in affected areas.

The response has been further complicated by the absence of a comprehensive national disaster emergency declaration. This has slowed the mobilization of large‑scale resources and reduced the prioritization of remote diocesan areas within the national response framework. As a result, much of the immediate relief work has relied heavily on local Church structures.

Local parishes, religious communities, and volunteers have taken on a central role. Parishes have opened temporary shelters, managed communal kitchens, and served as coordination and distribution hubs. Volunteers from parish and religious groups are assisting in relief distribution and health outreaches, including in hard‑to‑reach locations.

So far, Caritas Indonesia and its diocesan partners have provided food assistance to 22,251 people, including via five communal kitchens. Hygiene kits have reached 5,722 people, health services have been delivered to 3,751 individuals, and psychosocial support has been provided to 1,588 people. In total, Caritas Indonesia has dispatched 60 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, medicines, and blankets, from its national logistics hub in Jakarta to affected areas across Sumatra.

On the importance of international help, Taruk said “solidarity from Catholics abroad, channeled through Caritas member organizations, dioceses, and parish networks, remains essential,” stressing that such support is key to reaching isolated communities, closing funding gaps, and ensuring continuity from emergency response to early recovery.

Other Catholic organizations have also stepped in. Father Martinus Dam Febrianto, SJ, director of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Indonesia, told CNA that the group launched an emergency response due to both the scale of the disaster and gaps in the official response. The organization’s work in Indonesia is part of Jesuit Refugee Service.

JRS was able to act quickly because of its long-standing presence on the island through its refugee protection programs. Since early December, the organization has distributed food, drinking water, hygiene kits, and other necessities.

Febrianto noted that damaged roads have forced many residents to walk long distances to access assistance. He said the heart of JRS’ response is pastoral accompaniment, “walking alongside” survivors who risk being left in prolonged and undignified living conditions due to limited access to housing, electricity, clean water, and sanitation.

Although JRS operates largely in predominantly Muslim areas, Febrianto explained that its engagement is humanitarian in nature. At the same time, he said, staff continue to witness resilience and inner strength among affected communities.

Public protests for accountability

Church leaders have also warned that the impact of the floods and landslides has been intensified by decades of deforestation across Sumatra. Large‑scale forest loss driven by illegal logging as well as industrial activity in the pulp, palm oil, and mining sectors has left communities more vulnerable to extreme weather events, they said.

Members of the Capuchin Franciscan order have joined other faith leaders in public protests calling for greater accountability.

CNA spoke with Father Supriyadi Pardosi, OFM Cap, of the Franciscan Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office in the Archdiocese of Medan, who said Capuchin friars have been leading demonstrations against the pulp company PT Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL).

Large public demonstrations have been held since Nov. 10 and directed at Indonesia’s People’s Representative Council, several government ministries, the National Commission on Human Rights, and the governor of North Sumatra.

“Our demand remains consistent: the closure of the pulp firm PT Toba Pulp Lestari,” Pardosi said. He pointed to a pattern of flooding near TPL’s operations, noting flash floods in Harian–Samosir in November 2023, Simallopuk in December 2023, and Parapat in March 2025, all before Cyclone Senyar struck.

Beyond environmental damage, Pardosi said the company’s presence has fueled deep social divisions. He is advocating for a return of the land to public use.

Drawing on the teaching of the late Pope Francis, Pardosi said that care for creation is inseparable from care for human life. “The degradation of nature is, in essence, the degradation of human life itself.”

The priest called for an urgent paradigm shift in Indonesia’s environmental stewardship, warning that the country, often described as one of the world’s “lungs,” cannot remain passive as forests are cleared for short-term financial gain. Human progress, he concluded, depends on learning from creation rather than exploiting it. Environmental destruction, he said, represents “a low point in our humanity,” with consequences that can burden generations yet to come.

Christmas recital at the Sacred Hearts School in Kfardebian, Lebanon. / Credit: Roumi El Hab

ACI MENA, Dec 24, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

With a rhythm of hymns carrying prayer and hopes for the nation, a group in Lebanon has launched an exceptional event aspiring to make history: a continuous Christmas hymn recital lasting 170 uninterrupted hours in an attempt to break a world record and inscribe the name of the Land of the Cedars in the Guinness World Records.

The endeavor is not merely about numbers or long hours of singing but a collective act of faith and a cultural and spiritual message declaring that the country, despite its wounds, is still capable of raising its voice in joy.

The Christmas recital is being held at Sacred Hearts School in Kfardebian and is organized by Sandra Akiki under the patronage of Béchara Boutros Raï, Maronite patriarch of Antioch and all the East. 

Ahead of the launch of the big event, Akiki spoke to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-news partner, about the background of the initiative and its spiritual and cultural motivations.

Akiki, who teaches theater and music at the school, described the idea for the recital as a “divine inspiration.” She emphasized that students formed the backbone of the initiative and stressed that the Church provided strong support, both pastorally and at the diocesan level, all the way to Bkerké. 

Given that Guinness rules require the presence of at least 12 people in the hall at all times, Akiki explained that the dioceses helped organize attendance schedules to ensure the venue would never be empty throughout the seven consecutive days.

Akiki added that the idea for the recital was born three years ago and that, while challenges were many, they were ultimately overcome.

Akiki also pointed to the strict requirements imposed by Guinness World Records, particularly the rule that each hymn must last no less than two minutes and that the interval between hymns must not exceed 20 seconds.

At its core, she said, the message of the recital is the message of Lebanon itself: Lebanon of culture and Lebanon of art. She referenced a statement by Pope Leo XIV, who said that Lebanon is not only a country of divisions but also a country of joy, and she also cited St. Augustine’s well-known words: “He who sings prays twice.” 

Akiki told ACI MENA that by affirming that while hardships in Lebanon continue, peace ultimately prevails, stressing that Lebanese dreams do not fade no matter how severe the challenges.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.

Olive Scout Troop Christmas Carnival in Old Damascus, 2025. / Credit: ACI MENA

ACI MENA, Dec 24, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

In a scene reflecting Syrians’ deep longing for life and joy after long years of suffering, Christmas celebrations continue across various regions of Syria, carrying messages of hope that transcend divisions and wounds. 

These festive atmospheres coincided with the official repeal of the Caesar Act, U.S.-imposed sanctions on Syria, which propels the country into a time of rebuilding its economy and securing the basic requirements for a dignified life for its citizens.

Among the most prominent Christmas events this week was the organization of a Christmas carnival by the Roman Melkite Olive Scout Troop in Old Damascus. 

A majestic procession toured the ancient streets with the participation of hundreds of people accompanied by handcrafted Christmas figures, decorated vehicles, brass band performances, and the display of both church and national flags. Archimandrite Michel Deirani told ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, that the aim of these initiatives is to “plant joy in the hearts of children and help them live in peace, overcoming the effects of wars and upheavals that have burdened the world.”

The celebrations were not limited to the capital. The village of Qinniyeh in the Idlib countryside witnessed the lighting of its Christmas tree and Nativity scene for the first time in 14 years. A Christmas market was also inaugurated in Tartous through a non-ecclesial initiative. 

In the same context, the Joy Choir, with its various age groups, continued presenting its customary hymn evenings in Damascus and Yabroud, leaving a positive impression on attendees including the acting head of the European Union delegation to Syria, Michael Ohnmacht, who remarked that the choir is “true to its name” and succeeded in embodying Syria’s true image.

Despite widespread praise for the heightened security measures accompanying the celebrations, troubling incidents emerged, including the burning of a Christmas tree in the Al-Adawiya district of Homs and another attempted arson in Al-Qusayr, in addition to the theft of a bronze statue of St. Paul in Bab Kisan. 

Controversy also arose over a social media post by Wael Hamza, director general of the Syrian General Organization for Books, who asked via Facebook not to be congratulated on the holidays — an unusual stance for a government official.

In the lead-up to Christmas, the Church did not forget its martyrs. John X Yazigi, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, visited Mar Elias Church, which had previously been targeted by a bombing, to review the rehabilitation work underway. 

Though the Caesar Act has been repealed, Syria remains subject to U.S. oversight related to counterterrorism efforts, the removal of foreign fighters, and the protection of minorities. In this context, 134 Republican members of the U.S. Congress signed a statement affirming their commitment to monitoring the new Syrian administration, stressing that violations against Christians and other minorities must become a thing of the past.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.

null / Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 24, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Abortion clinic workers across the country are once again receiving Christmas cards from religious sisters offering prayers, compassion, and an invitation to seek a career outside the abortion industry.

And Then There Were None (ATTWN), a pro-life organization dedicated to assisting abortion clinic workers leave their jobs and find life-affirming careers, carries out this ministry each Christmas season with help from convents around the country. The Christmas card project is a part of a larger mission of handwritten cards sent throughout the year.

This year, Dominican, Maronite, Benedictine, Carmelite, Capuchin, and Franciscan sisters, as well as Apostolic Sisters of St. John and Trinitarians of Mary, sent at least 1,030 handwritten Christmas cards to abortion clinic workers with loving messages and an image of the Holy Family. 

Reaching ‘quitters’

ATTWN has sent nearly 23,000 handwritten cards to abortion facilities in the last decade, encouraging workers to leave their jobs with ATTWN’s support.

“The clinics are hearing from us about once every four to five business days in some way, whether it’s through some gift, a little trinket, a handwritten card, a postcard, or something we send in,” Abby Johnson, ATTWN CEO and founder, told CNA.

Johnson herself once worked in the industry, serving as a clinic director of an abortion facility in Bryan, Texas, for eight years before leaving and starting ATTWN to help other “quitters” leave, find new employment, and heal from their experiences.

“Our handwritten card ministry is one of the most effective ministries we have in reaching abortion clinic workers and having them leave,” she said. “There’s just something very personal about a handwritten note. Somebody took the time to sit down and write to you.” 

ATTWN has “dozens and dozens” of volunteers who send the messages regularly, Johnson said. “We have a really accurate database of abortion clinics and abortion referral facilities. I think there’s about 850 facilities on there, and this group of women are constantly writing notes.” 

When workers receive the notes, “they leave,” Johnson said. “Workers will say, ‘I got this letter. I folded it up, I kept it in my purse, I put it in my scrub pocket, and I went home and I called you guys.’ So it is very powerful. We see that it does truly make a difference.”

“I received a handwritten note from one of my sidewalk counselors when I worked at the clinic, and I still have it in my wallet,” Johnson said. “It’s just a Bible verse on it, but it says, ‘The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.’ And I still have that little card in my wallet from 18 years ago.”

The note “meant enough at that time to keep it,” Johnson said. “I pull it out and remind myself why I’m doing [pro-life work] and how God has blessed me so much. It’s just a powerful reminder that someone out there took the time to think about you, specifically.”

Christmas card ministry 

The letters create “by far the most overwhelming response … and we have the highest response from them at Christmastime, which is when they are receiving the notes from the sisters,” Johnson said. 

Five years ago, Johnson decided to incorporate the Christmas season into the ministry, specifically with the help of religious sisters. 

“The idea came to me because I was very moved by a Franciscan sister who used to pray in front of the facility where I used to work in Bryan, Texas. It was the first time that I had ever seen a nun in public in my life.”

“I was so struck by her being out there and her presence,” she said. “It was so hot outside, and she was in her full habit, and her little face was so red. It was over 100 degrees. I remember I just watched her all day outside my window.”

“I remember the first patient that left that day after having an abortion, she fell to her knees and was just weeping. I thought: ‘Wow, this has really impacted her in a way that I just can’t understand. She has a sorrow that I just don’t understand.’”

“That’s always stayed with me ever since I was working there … So when we started the ministry,  we started thinking: ‘How could we incorporate nuns in some way?’” 

If workers started speaking with religious sisters, it could “make an impact on their heart,” Johnson thought. “We started reaching out to convents across the country, asking them if they would partner with us.”

Several reached back out to ATTWN and eagerly wanted to be a part of the project.

A ‘perfect partnership’

ATTWN shares its database of clinics with the sisters, “then they just start writing,” Johnson said. “It’s just been really beautiful to see the fruit of that.”

Some of the participating sisters live in cloistered convents. “They don’t go out. They spend their lives in contemplative prayer,” Johnson said. “So their only real correspondence is through mail, through writing. So it’s beautiful work for them.”

“This is what they do. They write notes, they send letters, they pray. That’s what they do all day long. So it’s a perfect ministry for them. It’s a perfect partnership.”

ATTWN will send the sister some ideas of what they can write so they know the proper resources to share with the workers, but then they can add any additional messages.

“They fill in other things that they would like to say, different spiritual things that they feel led to say,” Johnson said. Their messages are “from their hearts and are just so prayerful and beautiful.”

After the sisters write the Christmas cards, they are “put on the altar, they’re blessed, they’re prayed over, and they’re sent in.”

“We always make sure that we send them a card that has the image of the Holy Family on it. We just want to remind them that that’s what God wants for them, and this is what Christmas is about — it’s about the Lord.”

The image is a reminder that “this is what we’re designed for,” Johnson said. “We’re designed for families, and God wants families for them as well. He wants families for the women who are walking into those clinics.” 

“He created us for good, for family, for love, and for creation, not for destruction. We make sure that the cards that we send in have an image that really defines that.”

Johnson plans for ATTWN to continue to send the annual cards from the sisters. “For so many of these convents, being pro-life is a part of who they are. It’s part of their charism,” she said. “So we would love to have as many as we can participate.

Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Christmas at the Vatican by reviving the tradition of offering Christmas Mass on Dec. 25 in St. Peter’s Basilica, something no pope has done since 1994.

The Christmas celebrations — which will be marked by the closing of the Holy Doors — will begin on the evening of Dec. 24, when the pontiff will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at 10 p.m. local time in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The schedule represents a change from recent years, when during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Christmas vigil Mass was moved to 7 p.m. Before 2009, it took place at midnight, until Benedict XVI decided to move it to an earlier time.

Tradition of Christmas Mass restored

On Dec. 25 at 10 a.m., Leo XIV will also celebrate the Christmas Day Mass in the Vatican basilica, a custom that has not been observed since the pontificate of St. John Paul II. Afterward, at noon, he will impart the traditional “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) blessing from the central balcony.

On Dec. 31, the pope will preside at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica over first vespers and the Te Deum in thanksgiving for the year that is ending. On Jan. 1, 2026, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 59th World Day of Peace, he will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m.

The message for this World Day of Peace, titled “Peace Be with You All: Towards an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” proposes a vision that rejects fear, threats, violence, and weapons, and advocates for a peace capable of generating trust, empathy, and hope.

One of the most significant moments of the Christmas season will take place on Jan. 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. At 9:30 a.m., Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and celebrate the closing Mass of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025. In the preceding days, the Holy Doors of the other papal basilicas — St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — will also have been closed.

This will be the second time in history that a jubilee year is closed by a different pope than the one who inaugurated it, as happened in 1700, when Innocent XII opened the holy year and Clement XI closed it.

The Christmas celebrations will conclude liturgically on Jan. 11, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. On that day, the pope will celebrate Mass and the baptism of several children of Vatican employees in the Sistine Chapel at 9:30 a.m., following a tradition established by St. John Paul II.

A pro-life Nativity scene

The Christmas spirit is already palpable in the Vatican after the Dec. 15 lighting of the Christmas tree and the inauguration of the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, events presided over by Sister Raffaella Petrini, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State. That same day, Leo received the donors of the tree and the Nativity scenes that were also set up in the Paul VI Audience Hall.

The Nativity scene in that space, called “Nacimiento Gaudium,” (“The birth that brings joy”) from Costa Rica, has attracted particular attention. Until Dec. 25, it depicts the Virgin Mary as pregnant, symbolizing anticipation and hope.

The figures rest on 28,000 white ribbons bearing the names or pseudonyms of children saved from abortion, while in the manger, 420 yellow ribbons display messages from hospitalized sick children.

Taking a break at Castel Gandolfo

After Christmas, the pope is scheduled to travel to Castel Gandolfo on Dec. 26 for a few days of rest, without, however, giving up presiding over the main liturgical events or meeting with the faithful on major feast days. In addition, on Jan. 7–8, he will gather all the cardinals of the world in Rome for his first ordinary consistory since the conclave that elected him.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

A variety of fish dishes served on Christmas Eve. / Credit: Francesca Pollio Fenton/CNA

CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

There are numerous Christmas Eve traditions families around the world take part in, whether it’s watching a certain movie together, baking cookies for Santa, opening one present before going to bed, or eating a specific meal for dinner. The Feast of the Seven Fishes — in Italian “La Vigilia,” which means “The Eve” — is one of these Christmas Eve traditions.

So, where does this tradition come from?

This feast stems from the southern part of Italy and spans generations. Before 1861, Italy was made up of different regions. Each had its own government, however, and the southern regions were the poorest. This remained true before and after the unification of the country. The new unified government allocated many of its resources to northern Italy, which caused poverty and organized crime in the south. The area, however, though poor, was plentiful in fish since it was so close to the ocean.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes tradition is also tied to the Catholic Church’s practice of not eating meat during certain times of the year — for example, on Fridays during Lent and on the eve of some holidays.

The number seven is also symbolic in that it is repeated more than 700 times in the Bible, and in Catholicism there are seven sacraments, seven days of creation, and seven deadly sins.

Although it is not an actual feast day on the Catholic liturgical calendar, it is definitely a feast in terms of the amount of food on the table!

Put all these things together and that is how the Feast of the Seven Fishes began in the 1900s.

Additionally, many Italians who fled the country due to poverty and immigrated to the United States brought this tradition with them, so the feast continued among many Italian Americans.

So what is eaten during this seven-course meal?

While there is no specific menu, there are some guidelines that are followed. The first being, of course, having seven different fish dishes. These dishes can include any type of seafood including shellfish. Based on the fish you plan to prepare, you can then determine the different courses that typically include appetizers, a soup, pasta, a side salad, and the main entrees.

Many families may also include a palette cleanser, or a small fruit dish, before bringing out the highly-anticipated desserts!

Some dishes include “insalata di mare” (“ocean salad”), which typically has shrimp and mussels; “insalata di polipo” (“salad with octopus”); “capestante,” which are clam shells filled with salmon, shrimp, and bechamel sauce; “linguine con frutti di mare,” which is a pasta with several different kinds of fish; and other dishes that include fried fish, eel, crab, and lobster.

And we can’t forget dessert! “Struffoli” are little balls of fried dough covered in honey and sprinkles and are considered a Neapolitan dessert. Others include “mostaccioli” and “roccocò,” which are types of cookies, and “pandoro” and “panettone” are sweet breads.

This is just a glimpse into the variety of dishes southern Italian families will spend hours preparing ahead of Christmas Eve dinner. Each family has its own fish dishes and ways of cooking them; however, one thing is for sure: You can expect to be filled to the brim with delicious food before heading off to bed.

This story was first published Dec. 23, 2022, and has been updated.

After delaying restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass for three months, Bishop Michael Martin said in a Sept. 26, 2025, letter that the Chapel of the Little Flower in the St. Therese Parish in Mooresville, North Carolina, which was recently renovated by the diocese and can seat just over 350 people, will have two Masses each Sunday and on holy days of obligation, / Credit: Diocese of Charlotte

CNA Staff, Dec 23, 2025 / 16:55 pm (CNA).

Priests as well as the lay faithful are voicing criticisms after Bishop Michael Martin of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, issued a pastoral letter last week prohibiting the use of altar rails and kneelers in the reception of Communion in the diocese.

In the Dec. 17 letter, Martin said that by Jan. 16, 2026, the use of altar rails, kneelers, and prie-dieus (movable kneelers) will no longer be permitted in the diocese, and any “temporary or movable fixtures used for kneeling for the reception of Communion” must be removed.

In the letter, Martin said while an “individual member of the faithful” is free to kneel to receive and should not be denied Communion, the “normative posture for all the faithful in the United States is standing,” per guidelines from the U.S. bishops.

In May, a leaked draft of a letter detailed Martin’s intended reforms of traditional practices in the diocese. In the letter, the bishop said that because “there is no mention in the conciliar documents, the reform of the liturgy, or current liturgical documents concerning the use of altar rails or kneelers for the distribution of holy Communion, they are not to be employed in the Diocese of Charlotte.”

Also in the May letter, Martin said it was “simply absurd” to suggest that “kneeling is more reverent than standing.”

Martin said in his Dec.17 letter that it is his “intention to continue to facilitate ‘peace and unity’ in our liturgies.”

A Charlotte priest who spoke to CNA on the condition of anonymity said of Martin’s “heavy-handed” approach to reform: “Everybody’s had it.”

“If the priests of the diocese were asked for a vote of no confidence, a vast majority would vote that way,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, Bishop Martin’s style of leadership has been a source of division for the diocese since his arrival and there does not seem to be any course correction after many appeals. It has been painful for many across the diocese,” he continued.

“Why is kneeling a problem? Why go to such lengths to force these changes?” he asked. Receiving communion is “the most intimate moment of the week for people, who are receiving their God. Why go through all this bad PR? I don’t understand it.”

“It’s going to be a train wreck,” he continued, speaking of the continued opposition to the bishop’s reforms. 

He told CNA he is hopeful the matter will be addressed at the upcoming consistory of cardinals in Rome.

A letter by an anonymous canon lawyer also began circulating last week throughout the Charlotte Diocese in response to Martin’s Dec. 17 letter.

In the anonymous letter, Martin is accused of ignoring the role of synodality in his decision-making. He is also accused of ignoring the feedback of his presbyteral council. 

Writing to Martin, the letter-writer told him that the “decision to prohibit altar rails and aids to kneeling relies on your own preference rather than the law or the tradition of the Church.”

Matthew Hazell, a British liturgy scholar, told the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, in May that Martin’s perspective was consistent with what Pope Benedict XVI famously described as a “hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture.” 

“Rather than allow the novus ordo to be celebrated in a manner in keeping with its own rubrics and with the Church’s tradition, Bishop Martin seems to see it as an entirely new creation that cannot even be seen to have anything in common with what came before,” Hazell told the Register.

Parishes that kneel reportedly provide lion’s share of vocations

According to Brian Williams, an advocate for Charlotte’s Traditional Latin Mass community, of the diocese’s 44 seminarians, “at least 75% are from parishes where kneeling has been the practice to receive holy Communion.”

Williams said his small parish, where kneeling is the norm, has produced seven seminarians recently. 

He told CNA that the ”mega parishes that have embraced these liturgical changes” have provided “maybe two of the 44 seminarians even though they account for tens of thousands of families.” 

One of the largest Catholic parishes in the country, St. Matthew Catholic Church, does not have altar rails. Willliams said there is “one seminarian from there right now, and not more than six men ordained from there in its entire history.” 

“They do a lot of great things, but they’re not providing vocations,” Williams said.

In September, despite a great deal of pushback, Martin canceled the Traditional Latin Mass in all but one small chapel that is not large enough to house the diocese’s burgeoning Latin Mass community. 

He initially tried to cancel the Mass several months earlier than the timeline set by his predecessor, Bishop Peter Jugis, but decided in the summer to allow the Mass to continue.

“It falls to every member of the body of Christ to facilitate unity in our celebrations. These norms for our diocese move us together toward the Church’s vision for the fuller and more active participation of the faithful, especially emphasized by our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, at the beginning of his Petrine ministry,” Martin wrote in the December letter.

In the May letter, Martin described how priestly vestments with too much lace or decoration would be prohibited in the diocese. That letter also decried the use of Latin in any Masses other than ones in which most of the attendees understand Latin, such as “a specific gathering of scholars, clergy, or those trained in classical music.”

Martin said pastors who incorporate Latin into their Masses are not being “pastorally sensitive,” writing that “the faithful’s full, conscious, and active participation is hindered wherever Latin is employed.” 

“Most of our faithful do not understand and will never comprehend the Latin language, especially those on the periphery. It is fallacious to think that if we employ Latin more frequently, the faithful will get used to it and finally understand it,” he claimed. 

When Martin concelebrated the Mass with several other bishops this summer at a parish that traditionally kneels at an altar rail to receive, per his direction, Communion was distributed in front of the altar rail to discourage parishioners from kneeling. 

Nevertheless, a video showed parishioners kneeling anyway, many of them elderly women who needed assistance standing up after receiving.

The Diocese of Charlotte declined multiple requests for comment.