Pope Leo Prays for Peace as Rome Begins Its Christmas Season

Pope Leo marked the beginning of the Christmas season with a traditional visit to the statue of the Virgin Mary near the Spanish Steps, joining thousands of Romans and pilgrims gathered for the annual prayer on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The event, deeply rooted in the city’s religious and cultural identity, offered a moment of reflection amid months of global unrest. On his first participation as Bishop of Rome in this ceremony, the pope traveled through the historic center in the popemobile, drawing large crowds lining Via Condotti and the surrounding streets decorated for the holiday season. Wearing his formal red mozzetta, he placed a bouquet of white roses at the foot of the statue and offered a prayer focused on peace, dignity and reconciliation. He referred to the millions of pilgrims who visited Rome during the Holy Year and expressed hope that, beyond ritual, households everywhere might open themselves to a renewed practice of nonviolence and understanding. His words emphasized the responsibility of communities to cultivate spaces where dignity is protected and the work of reconciliation can be learned and lived.

The pope’s presence at the Spanish Steps reaffirmed the importance of public witness during moments of festivity, drawing together themes of tradition, social unity and spiritual renewal. Shop owners along Via Condotti, a central part of the city’s commercial identity, honored him as part of the event, highlighting the symbolic relationship between civic life and the Church’s rituals. As preparations advance for his first Christmas as pope, Leo has introduced small changes intended to restore familiar rhythms, including returning Christmas Eve Mass to its usual late evening start time. His schedule will be demanding, with the midnight liturgy leading into Christmas Day celebrations at St. Peter’s Basilica and the traditional Urbi et Orbi message delivered from the same balcony where he first greeted the world following his election. The days that follow will continue with vespers on New Year’s Eve and the Mass of Mary, Mother of God on January 1, before culminating in the Epiphany liturgy on January 6.

This year’s Epiphany celebration holds added significance as it will officially close the 2025 Holy Year, concluding months of pilgrimage and prayer that brought unprecedented crowds to Rome. The closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica will mark the end of a cycle of reflection focused on renewal and mercy. Pope Leo has also announced plans for the next extraordinary Jubilee in 2033 to mark two millennia since the death and resurrection of Christ, signaling his desire to frame the coming years within a broader horizon of spiritual preparation. His prayer at the Spanish Steps therefore stands as both a gesture of continuity and a reminder of the Church’s mission to work for peace in a world still facing profound conflict. The festive atmosphere of Rome offered a vivid backdrop, yet the pope’s message pointed toward deeper aspirations for harmony that transcend seasonal celebrations and speak to the enduring hope at the heart of the Christmas proclamation.