- Title: Thousands of visitors gather to attend Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican
- Date: 24th December 2017
- Summary: VATICAN CITY (DECEMBER 24, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE AND SECURITY VEHICLES PARKED IN FRONT OF ST. PETER'S SQUARE VARIOUS OF POLICE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE VARIOUS OF VISITORS AT NATIVITY SCENE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE VARIOUS OF VISITORS GATHERING IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE AHEAD OF PAPAL CHRISTMAS EVE MASS VISITOR FILMING ST. PETER'S BASILICA CHRISTMAS TREE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE COLUMNS IN SQUARE CHILD RUNNING IN SQUARE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING TO ENTER BASILICA FOR MASS VARIOUS OF SECURITY GUARDS SCREENING BELONGINGS OUTSIDE BASILICA (SOUNDBITE) (English) VISITOR FROM THE PHILIPPINES, MEL LAO, SAYING: "I hope that people will be more forgiving towards one another, whatever their religion is, more accepting so that we will all live in harmony. Just apply also the golden rule - whatever you don't want to be done unto you, don't do it unto them. Thank you." (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN VISITOR, ALLYSON WOO, SAYING: "I think that the Pope signifies a lot of hope for a lot of people and that he has the power to bring a lot of people together through religion and through faith and even for people who are not very religious, he signifies a lot for a lot of people and he has the power, he has the reach to have a great audience and an ear.
- Embargoed: 7th January 2018 22:27
- Keywords: Pope Francis Christmas Eve Mass Vatican security
- Location: VATICAN CITY
- City: VATICAN CITY
- Country: Vatican City
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0017D9WL6V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Security was stepped up at the Vatican on Sunday (December 24), with participants checked as they approached St. Peter's Square even before going through metal detectors to get into the basilica. The square was cleared out hours earlier so security procedures could be put in place.
Pope Francis, celebrating his fifth Christmas as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholic, led a solemn Mass for about 10,000 people in St. Peter's Basilica while many others followed the service outside.
On Christmas Day (December 25), Francis will deliver his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and to the World) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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