Pope Benedict XVI to celebrate his first Christmas Eve mass

Dec 24, 2005, 17:31 GMT

Vatican City - Catholics around the world Saturday prepared to follow a Christmas vigil mass in Rome's Basilica of St. Peter, the first to be celebrated by a new pope in nearly 30 years.

A total of 122 television networks from 74 countries planned to broadcast the ceremony, a sign of the interest surrounding Pope Benedict XVI.

Curiosity was also high in Rome, with Vatican officials saying all tickets available for the midnight ritual had been sold out several days in advance.

Those unable to find a place inside what is considered the largest church in the world were to follow the ceremony thanks to two giant screens positioned in St. Peter's Square.

This Christmas caps a particularly intense year for Catholics, who saluted the departure of the immensely popular pope John Paul II after nearly 27 years at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church.

Parkinson's disease and old age - he was nearly 85 when he passed away - meant it had become increasingly difficult for the Polish pontiff to conduct the traditionally gruelling seasonal rites.

German-born Joseph Ratzinger has no such difficulties. Elected pope in April at the age of 78, he planned to lead Saturday's mass and impart Sunday's traditional 'urbi et orbi' message to the city and the world virtually unassisted.

Benedict's homily was expected to focus on the spiritual nature of Christmas, focussing on Jesus' coming as a sign of God's goodness.