By Kevin J. Jones Denver, Colo., Dec 25, 2024 / 04:00 am The Catholic calendar has several ways to divide the Christmas season. The Church’s Western liturgical tradition sees Christmas as an octave, an eight-day celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The octave of Christmas begins on Christmas itself, the feast of …

By Pope Leo XIV Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:31 pm 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 …

By Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 25, 2025 / 06:00 am If you spend any part of Christmas in Italy, you are sure to hear one of the country’s most beloved carols, “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle” (“From Starry Skies Descending”). The Christmas song, written and composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori in …

By Victoria Cardiel Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 06:00 am 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 …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 24, 2025 / 04:00 am 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 …

The song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is an English Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Dec 22, 2025 / 06:00 am The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s list of prayer intentions for the year 2026. Every month, Pope Leo asks Catholics around the world to pray for a particular intention. This initiative is accompanied by a video in …

By CNA Staff Vatican City, Dec 22, 2025 / 09:58 am Pope Leo XIV has appointed Monsignor James A. Misko, a priest of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, as the next bishop of Tucson, Arizona. The Holy See Press Office publicized the appointment at the Vatican, and it was also publicized …

By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 22, 2025 / 13:07 pm Archbishop Paul Coakley said this week he is looking forward to speaking with President Donald Trump in “the near future.” Coakley, who was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in November, said he has “not had …

by CNA Staff CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2021 / 14:14 pm Christmastime is upon us. In the spirit of the holiday, the writers and editors of CNA would like to share some of their favorite Christmas movies — and where you can find them.  Merry Christmas and happy viewing! The …