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Summary Pope Benedict XVI kicks off busy two weeks of Christmas celebrations with an evening Mass.
Midnight Mass in St. Peters Basilica 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.Next weekend, Benedict will preside over a New Years Eve vespers service and New Years Day Mass, followed by an Epiphany Mass on Jan. 6 and his traditional baptizing of babies in the Sistine Chapel two days later. --AP
