Pope Francis will celebrate his first public Mass of 2021 on the occasion of the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. As usual, the Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Basilica.
After being unable to celebrate the traditional Te Deum prayer on Dec. 31 nor the Mass on Jan. 1 due to a painful sciatica, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis will preside over the Jan. 6 liturgy.
This Mass marks the Catholic feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the three Magi to the infant Jesus.
Last year, the pope noted during his homily how the magi not only came bearing gifts but, upon seeing the child, “they bowed down and worshiped him.”
He said, “worship means going to Jesus without a list of petitions, but with one request alone: to abide with Him.”
The liturgy is set to start at 10 a.m. Rome time.
The Mass will be held at the Altar of the chair of St. Peter. There will be few attendees due to ongoing protocols against the pandemic.
Christian Campos
