Pope’s upcoming schedule

November 09, 2012 - Pope Benedict XVI has a busy schedule ahead, with important public celebrations starting later this month, including Advent and Christmas season festivities. The Vatican on Friday issued the Pope’s schedule for November, December and January. The first major event is the Nov. 24 consistory during which he will create 6 new cardinals, including India’s Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis of Trivandrum, head of the eastern-rite Syro-Malankara Church. The following day the Pope will mark the feast of Christ the King with a Mass with the new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica. On December 8 the Pope will observe the feast of the Immaculate Conception with a traditional homage to the statue of Mary in downtown Rome. As bishop of the Diocese of Rome, the Pope will visit parish on Dec. 16. On Dec. 24 he will usher in Christmas season with a night Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, and the following day will deliver the “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas message and blessing along with greetings in various languages of the world. On the last day of the year he will lead a thanksgiving Vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica. On New Year’s Day, the Pope will mark the feast of the Mother of God and the Catholic Church World Day of Peace with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The other major celebrations of the Pope are the feast of the Epiphany on the Jan. 6 and the Baptism of babies in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Jan. 13.