Pope Benedict XVI faces busy Christmas schedule

By Nicholas Rigillo Dec 22, 2005, 8:43 GMT

Vatican City - Joseph Ratzinger faces a busy Christmas program, his first as Pope Benedict XVI, starting Saturday with a traditional Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and Christmas Day's 'urbi et orbi' blessing to Rome and the world.

And while the Vatican has made no major changes to the program that was followed by his predecessor John Paull II for nearly three decades, the main novelty this year will be represented by Benedict himself.

Old age and Parkinson's disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, meant John Paul II could hardly walk and had difficulties making himself understood during the latter years of his pontificate. Last Christmas, for instance, 84-year-old John Paul had to be moved around the vast basilica on a mobile platform and faced enormous problems reading out his homily.

Benedict, on the other hand, faces no such difficulties. And although only 6 years younger than John Paul was, he is physically fit and in little need of assistance.

Nor does he have any problems making himself understood, as he did last Sunday, when he used plain and clear words to warn the faithful against letting rampant materialism spoil the spirit of Christmas.

'Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not expensive gifts that cost time and money,' the 78-year-old pontiff said.

Benedict himself has set the example by giving the Vatican's 4,200 employees a signed Christmas card, along with a typical Italian Christmas cake, a bottle of sparkling wine and a rosary, according to a Catholic News Service report.

In the run up to Saturday's Christmas Eve Mass, the pope will hold his annual meeting with cardinals and Vatican officials, with his speech likely to offer a review of the Church's particularly eventful year, including references to John Paul's death, on April 2, and his own election as head of the Roman Catholic Church, two weeks later.

On December 31, Benedict will preside over the usual evening prayer service in St. Peter's.

On the morning of New Year's Day he will address the Church's annual World Day of Peace with calls for nuclear disarmament and an end to terrorism.