uck and honour in equal measure!L
On Christmas Eve, we are so lucky to have received tickets at the eleventh hour to be seated in St Peter’s Basilica for the Midnight Christmas Mass, presided over by Pope Francis.
Arriving at St Peter’s at 6.30 pm, we join a queue that stretches right around St Peter’s Square, and back, in a double line. The massive doors swing open at 7.30 pm and we see a flood of humanity gushing forth, looking like ants against the massive pillars of the portico of St Peter’s, to find a seat for the Mass (and the best vantage point to see the new Pope).
Incredulously, all 10,000 worshippers find places in the Basilica, the largest church in the world, even if we are seated in the last rows. As Matthew wrote, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”, we have prime seats to be in close proximity to the Holy Father both at the Entrance Procession, and again as he carries the baby Jesus to place in the Nativity crib.
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To my surprise, Pope Francis is shorter, and perhaps older looking in the flesh.The simplicity of his vestments makes it difficult to distinguish him at first from the others in the Procession.
THIS VIDEO shares but five minutes of the two-hour Mass, music and spectacle, culminating with the Procession to the Nativity Crib with Pope Francis carrying the baby Jesus.
View our Christmas with Pope Francis PHOTOS: CLICK HERE
Mea culpa, Ricardo.
Thank you Michael, the closest i’ve been to the Pope. Loved the video from Christmas Mass.
Well Michael – my father would have given half of his old age to be in your shoes , when he was watching in Sydney on TV the Papal benediction ,he was on his knees . He was a “”Chevalier du Pape “” bestowed upon him for services rendered to the St Franciscan church when residing in Egypt .
Wishing you a healthy and extremely full of joy 2014 Hug Marianne
now i feel that ive actually met the new pope!!