Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Christmas mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican tonight, DPA reported, BTA reported.
He is expected to deliver a speech in which he will speak out against wars and violence, and to recall the suffering of humanity.
The first American pope has already delivered several messages calling for peace and reconciliation, and to recall the victims around the world. This year, the Christmas mass is planned for late evening - later than the services of his predecessor Pope Francis.
Already in poor health, Francis opened the Holy Year on Christmas Day last year, DPA recalls. Sitting in a wheelchair, he announced the Jubilee Year, which will end on January 6. In Bethlehem, Christians will also celebrate Christmas for the first time since the end of the war in the Gaza Strip.
A large Christmas tree has been erected in front of the Church of the Nativity for the first time in two years. The traditional Christmas mass will also be celebrated there at night. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism expects more than 40,000 Christian pilgrims to come to the Holy Land for Christmas.