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On the feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Church, Pope Leo XIV invited the faithful to contemplate martyrdom not as an end, but as a beginning: a "birth into heaven" that reveals what it truly means to come into the light. Greeting pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the Angelus, on the day traditionally known by early Christians as Saint Stephen's "birthday", the Pope recal... Read More

The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell says he was 'intimidated' by Israeli militias during his recent visit to the Holy Land. During his Christmas Day sermon yesterday at York Minster, Archbishop Cottrell revealed he was stopped at checkpoints and that militias told him he could not visit Palestinian families in the West Bank. His full homily text follows: "The true light, which ... Read More

Gospel of 26 December 2025 Matthew 10: 17-22 At that time: Jesus instructed his Apostles: 'Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are... Read More

Pope Leo XIV used his first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message to renew his appeal for peace, dialogue, and responsibility, turning to those regions where violence and instability continue to claim innocent lives. The Pope prayed for "justice, peace, and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria," and urged that the promise of peace rooted in righteousness be renewed. He appealed in a partic... Read More

Pope Leo celebrated the Christmas morning Mass in St Peter's Basilica, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope John Paul II in 1994. In his homily, the Holy Father insisted that "a new day has dawned" and "we, too, are part of this new beginning, even if few as yet believe it: peace is real, and is already among you." Jesus, he said, sent His disciples as messengers of peace to reveal "the pow... Read More

Cardinal Vincent Nichols gave this homily at Westminster Cathedral for Christmas Midnight Mass, 24th December 2025. Tonight is a night of prayer and praise, shaped by one much-acclaimed event: the birth of a child. Babies evoke in us tenderness and love - at least when they are not crying! And this is the tenor of our prayer tonight. The tenderness and love we have for this child, whose birth we ... Read More

Before celebrating his first Midnight Mass in St Peter's Basilica last night, attended by more than 6,000 people, Pope Leo XIV came out into St Peter's Square to address the crowds. He thanked everyone for coming and said although the Basilica was large there wasn't room to receive everyone inside - so he encouraged people to watch the Mass on screens and gave them his blessing. During the Mass Po... Read More

Gospel of 25 December 2025 John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whos... Read More

Archbishop Martin: "I pray that for those out there who are lonely, isolated and struggling, poor, sick or in need, that we who love God can bring Christ to them this Christmas" Homily The late Pope Francis - God rest his soul - was speaking at Christmas time some years ago and he described Jesus as "knocking at the door of our hearts". Christ comes into our lives, including at Christmas time, b... Read More

Once again, Arundel Cathedral in West Sussex has issued a beautiful Christmas video, featuring soaring drone views of the Cathedral in the snow accompanied this year by For Unto Us A Child Is Born, from Handel's Messiah, performed by Ansan City Choir, South Korea. Filmed in 4K by photographer and software consultant Bryden Isbister with his son James, the film goes on to show beautiful scenes of t... Read More

In his annual Christmas message to the Archdiocese of Southwark, Archbishop John Wilson said that "each time we are asked the meaning of Christmas, our hearts should be filled with awe, joy and hope as we are drawn back to that remarkable night in Bethlehem." This is because, on "that night, the world changed forever. The Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, revealed the majesty and glory o... Read More

As we walk through a dark tunnel, where hope often feels distant and fragile, we hold to one unshakable truth, the candle is still burning. Even in the deepest darkness, the light of Christ continues to shine, and the darkness will never overcome it. Here at the Tent of Nations, where our hope is tested daily and pressure surrounds us from every side, Christmas speaks directly into our reality tod... Read More

In his first Christmas message as Bishop of Plymouth, the Right Reverend Nicholas Hudson reflects on the wonder of the Nativity and invites Catholics across Devon, Dorset and Cornwall to embrace Christ's call to "make your home in me as I make mine in you." Bishop Nicholas speaks movingly of the annual return to the manger scene: "Whatever age you are, it's always deeply moving, isn't it, to see t... Read More

Last Christmas, Columban Missionary Fr John McEvoy was invited to celebrate Mass in the ruins of Killoughey's old church and cemetery where 373 years previously 100 people were brutally killed as they attended Christmas Day Mass. It was a strange invitation. At the time I thought it unreasonable and even not possible! Would I consider offering Mass on Christmas morning in a ruined church in the ol... Read More