Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- His Excellency Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and entourage.

This morning, 9 December 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in Audience, at his residence in Castel Gandolfo, His Excellency Mr Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.

During the cordial talks, which focused on the war in Ukraine, the Holy Father reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.

In addition, the questions of prisoners of war and the need to assure the return of Ukrainian children to their families were also discussed.

At midday today, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father Leo XIV appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.

The following are the Pope’s words of introduction to the Marian prayer:

 

Dear brothers and sisters, happy feast day!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We express our joy because the Father of Heaven wanted her to be “preserved immune from all stain of original sin” (Pius IX, Apostolic Constitution  Ineffabilis Deus , 8 December 1854), full of innocence and holiness in order to be able to entrust to her, for our salvation, “his only begotten Son … whom … the Father loves from his heart” (cf. ibid.)

The Lord has granted to Mary the extraordinary grace of a completely pure heart, in view of an even greater miracle: the coming of Christ the Savior into the world as man (cf.  Lk  1:31-33). The Virgin learned about this, with the wonder typical of the humble, from the greeting of the Angel: “Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with you” (v. 28) and with faith she responded with her “yes”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (v. 38).

Commenting on these words, Saint Augustine says that “Mary believed, and what she believed was fulfilled in her” ( Sermon  215, 4). The gift of the fullness of grace, in the young woman of Nazareth, was able to bear fruit because she in her freedom welcomed it, embracing the plan of God. The Lord always acts in this way: he gives us great gifts, but he leaves us free to accept them or not. For this reason, Augustine adds: “We also believe, because that which came to be [in her] can also benefit us” (ibid.). And so this feast, which makes us rejoice for the unsullied beauty of the Mother of God, also invites us to believe as she believed, giving our generous assent to the mission to which the Lord calls us.

The miracle, which took place at Mary’s conception, was renewed for us in Baptism: cleansed from original sin, we have become children of God, his dwelling place and the temple of the Holy Spirit. And just as Mary, by means of a special grace, was able to welcome Jesus in herself and give him to all people, so too “Baptism allows Christ to live in us and allows us to live united with him, to cooperate in the Church, each according to his or her condition, for the transformation of the world” ( Francis ,  Catechesis , 11 April 2018).

Dear friends, how great is the gift of the Immaculate Conception, but so also is the gift of Baptism that we have received! The “yes” of the Mother of the Lord is wonderful, but so also can ours be, renewed faithfully each day, with gratitude, humility and perseverance, in prayer and in concrete acts of love, from the most extraordinary gestures to the most mundane and ordinary efforts and acts of service. In this way, Christ can be known, welcomed and loved everywhere and salvation can come to everyone.

Today, let us ask the Father for this, through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, while we pray together the very same words by which she herself first believed.

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After the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

I warmly greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from Italy and other parts of the world. In particular, I greet the faithful from Molina in Spain, the Cultural Assocation “Firenze in Armonia” and “Ragazzi dell’Immacolata.” I willingly bless the group from Rocca di Papa and the torch that will light the Christmas Star on the Fortress of that beautiful town.

I extend a special greeting to the members of Italian Catholic Action, who today celebrate Membership Day in their parish communities. I wish everyone a fruitful educational and apostolic activity, so that they may be credible witnesses of the Gospel.

To you, dear Romans and pilgrims, I have an appointment this afternoon in the Piazza di Spagna, where I will go for the traditional tribute to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

I wish all of you a peaceful feast day in the light of our heavenly Mother.

NOTIFICATION LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS OF CHRISTMAS TIME 2025-2026 PRESIDED OVER BY THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV

Wednesday 24 December 2025 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Papal Chapel Saint Peter’s Basilica, 22.00

The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over Mass on the night of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. The Eucharistic Celebration will be preceded by the preparation, which will begin at 21.40, and by the singing of the Kalenda.

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The Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 21.30 in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, bringing with them: the Cardinals and Patriarchs, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and Bishops, their simple white mitre.

The Presbyters who wish to concelebrate, and the Deacons, must obtain the relevant ticket from this office via the procedure indicated at https://biglietti.liturgiepontificie.va , subject to availability of places, are invited to be present by 21.00 at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them their amice, alb, cincture and white stole.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating must present the Notification , to be obtained at [email protected] by 18 December. They are all required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Confessio by 21.30, in order to be shown to their places by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Thursday 25 December 2025 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Saint Peter’s Basilica, 10.00

The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over Mass of the day of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

* * *

The Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 9.30 in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, bringing with them: the Cardinals and Patriarchs, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and Bishops, their simple white mitre.

The Presbyters who wish to concelebrate, and the Deacons, must obtain the relevant ticket from this office via the procedure indicated at https://biglietti.liturgiepontificie.va , subject to availability of places, are invited to be present by 9.00 at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them their amice, alb, cincture and white stole.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating must present the Notification , to be obtained at [email protected] by 18 December. They are all required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Confessio by 9.30, in order to be shown to their places by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Thursday 25 December 2025 SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Central Loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, 12.00 “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing

The Holy Father Leo XIV will address his Christmas message to the world, and will impart the “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing.

Wednesday 31 December 2025 SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Saint Peter’s Basilica, 17.00

The Holy Father Leo XIV will celebrate First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, to be followed by the traditional singing of the “Te Deum” hymn, at the conclusion of the civil year.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, the Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and all the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating must present the Notification , to be obtained at [email protected] by 18 December. They are all required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Confessio by 16.30, in order to be shown to their places by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Thursday 1 January 2026 SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Saint Peter’s Basilica, 10.00

The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the Eucharistic Celebration on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, in the Octave of Christmas, and the 59th World Day of Peace.

* * *

The Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 9.30 in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, bringing with them: the Cardinals and Patriarchs, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and Bishops, their simple white mitre.

The Presbyters who wish to concelebrate, and the Deacons, must obtain the relevant ticket from this office via the procedure indicated at https://biglietti.liturgiepontificie.va , subject to availability of places, are invited to be present by 9.00 at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them their amice, alb, cincture and white stole.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating must present the Notification , to be obtained at [email protected] by 18 December. They are all required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Confessio by 9.30, in order to be shown to their places by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Tuesday 6 January 2026 SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Closing of the Ordinary Jubilee 2025 Papal Chapel Saint Peter’s Basilica, 9.30

The Holy Father Leo XIV will preside over the rite of the Closing of the Holy Door and the Eucharistic Celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

* * *

The Patriarchs, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 9.00 at the Braccio di Costantino, bringing with them: the Cardinals and Patriarchs, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and Bishops, their simple white mitre.

The Presbyters who wish to concelebrate, and the Deacons, must obtain the relevant ticket from this office via the procedure indicated at https://biglietti.liturgiepontificie.va , subject to availability of places, are invited to be present by 9.00 in the Gregorian Chapel, bringing with them their amice, alb, cincture and white stole.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”, the members of the Pontifical Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration without concelebrating must present the Notification , to be obtained at [email protected] by 18 December. They are all required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Confessio by 9.00, in order to be shown to their places by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Vatican City, 6 December 2025

By mandate of the Holy Father

✠ Diego Ravelli Titular Archbishop of Recanati Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations

We are pleased to learn that today the episcopal dignity of His Excellency Giuseppe Zhang Weizhu, bishop emeritus of the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang (Henan, mainland China), has been civilly recognized. This measure is the result of dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities and constitutes an important new step in the journey of communion of the ecclesiastical circumscription.