Pope Leo Surprises St. Peter’s Crowd Before Christmas Eve Mass

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Steve KennyDecember 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM

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On Christmas Eve 2025, Pope Leo XIV, the American-born pontiff, celebrated his first Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Before the service, Pope Leo XIV greeted the crowd in St. Peter's Square in both English and Italian, apologizing that the basilica could not accommodate everyone. During the two-and-a-half-hour celebration, Pope Leo XIV delivered a nine-minute homily, retelling the story of Jesus Christ's birth and its significance, while also indirectly addressing global crises. He criticized the globalized economy and alluded to military conflicts, emphasizing the dignity of every person. He also addressed the legacies of his predecessors, Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, highlighting their contributions to the Church.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Chicago 30% Jesus Christ 40% Pope Francis 50% Pope Benedict XVI ×250% Vatican 60% St Peter's Basilica 70% St. Peter's Square ×280% Pope Leo XIV ×4100%

Keywords

pope leo xiv 100% christmas eve mass 90% st. peter's basilica 80% roman catholic church 70% homily 60% pope francis 50% pope benedict xvi 50% globalized economy 50% religious celebration 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.30

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Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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pope leo xiv christmas eve mass st. peter's basilica roman catholic church homily pope francis pope benedict xvi globalized economy religious celebration

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