(Dec. 23, 2006) Three Indian TV networks are telecasting live the Pope’s Christmas
Eve Midnight Mass, and two of them will be linked via satellite to the Pontiff’s
traditional ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing which he delivers from the central
balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at noon on Christmas day, Dec. 25. India’s state
television, Doordarshan, as well as NDTV and Jeevan TV are telecasting live the Pope’s
Christmas Eve midnight Mass. The ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Christmas message and blessing is
being covered by Doordarshan and NDTV only. The website of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of India, CBCI, has announced that Doordarshan will telecast the Midnight
Mass from 4.24 to 6.24 AM early on Monday morning and the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and
blessing from 5.30 to 6.21 PM later that day. They are part of an estimated 45 nations
and 82 networks that will be linked to the Pope’s Midnight Mass. At least 100 television
networks in 61 countries will be linked by satellite to the Christmas Day “Urbi et
Orbi” message and blessing. Among other Asian networks covering the Pope’s Christmas
events are Sri Lanka TV Corporation, Indonesia’s Indosiar TV and 5 TV networks of
the Philippines. ‘Urbi et Orbi’ in Latin means ‘to the city of Rome and to the
world’. The Pope is the bishop of Rome as well as the head of the worldwide Catholic
Church. ‘Urbe et Orbi’ message and blessing are delivered twice a year – at Christmas
and at Easter. Other papal celebrations this Christmas season are: - his
Vespers of the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and singing of the Te Deum in thanksgiving
for the blessings of the past year, in the evening on Dec. 31 in St. Peter’s basilica.
- a morning mass on January 1st, New Year’s Day, in St. Peter's Basilica
for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace. - a solemn Mass
in the morning of January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord in
St. Peter's Basilica. - A Mass on Jan. 7th, the feast of the Baptism
of the Lord, during which the Pope will baptize infants in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.