On December 25, Catholics around the world, as well as Protestants, Anglicans and some Orthodox Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar, celebrate the Nativity of Christ. The main Christmas service was held in the Vatican in St. Peter's Basilica, led by Pope Francis, reports TASS.
On Monday, believers await the appearance of the pontiff on the balcony of the cathedral, from where he will make the traditional appeal “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”). As a rule, in his speeches the head of the Roman Catholic Church touches on pressing issues of our time.
There are more than 1,2 billion Catholics in the world. Catholicism is widespread not only in traditional Catholic countries, but also in other countries, including Arab and Asian ones.