This photo collection was shot by Catholic News Service Photographer Paul Haring, during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services at the Vatican.
Click on the arrows within the photos to advance the images and captions.
World
PHOTO ESSAY: CHRISTMAS AT THE VATICAN
By CATHOLIc NEWS SERVICE 12/27/2015
POPE FRANCIS USES INCENSE AT THE ALTAR AS HE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS EVE MASS IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN DEC. 24. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
PEOPLE ATTEND POPE FRANCIS' CHRISTMAS BLESSING "URBI ET ORBI" (TO THE CITY AND THE WORLD) FROM THE CENTRAL BALCONY OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN DEC. 25. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
CARLA MARIA VALENZI, 6, WEARS A CHRISTMAS HAT IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE AFTER POPE FRANCIS' CHRISTMAS EVE MASS AT THE VATICAN DEC. 24. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
POPE FRANCIS DELIVER HIS CHRISTMAS BLESSING "URBI ET ORBI" (TO THE CITY AND THE WORLD) FROM THE CENTRAL BALCONY OF ST. PETER'S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN DEC. 25. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
CHILDREN CARRY FLOWERS TO PLACE AT A FIGURINE OF THE BABY JESUS AS POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS EVE MASS IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN DEC. 24. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)
THE MOON IS SEEN THROUGH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN THE SHAPE OF A GLOBE ON A STREET IN ROME ON CHRISTMAS EVE DEC. 24. A RARE FULL MOON WILL DAWN ON CHRISTMAS. THE LUNAR GIFT LAST HAPPENED IN 1977 AND WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN UNTIL 2034.
POPE FRANCIS USES INCENSE AS HE VISITS THE NATIVITY SCENE AT THE CONCLUSION OF CHRISTMAS EVE MASS IN ST. PETER'S BASILICA AT THE VATICAN DEC. 24. (CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING)