VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI kicks off a busy two weeks of Christmas celebrations with an evening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
Midnight Mass was moved up to 10 p.m. a few years ago to spare the 84-year-old pontiff such a late night.
Benedict will celebrate the Mass, and then after a few hours rest will deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" speech — Latin for "to the city and the world," where Benedict usually reflects on the hardships facing the world, and ends with Christmas greetings delivered in dozens of languages.
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Next weekend, Benedict will preside over a New Year's Eve vespers service and New Year's Day Mass, followed by an Epiphany Mass on Jan. 6 and his traditional baptizing of babies in the Sistine Chapel two days later.