The Holy See Press Office has released the schedule for celebrations presided over by Pope Francis for the month of December, excluding the Christmas season.

Immaculate Conception Ceremony in Piazza di Spagna

The first significant event in the Pope's December calendar is the traditional celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8. Pope Francis will be present at 4 PM on this day in Piazza di Spagna for the Act of Veneration of the Immaculate.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Continuing with the month's events, on December 12, in observance of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Holy Father will preside over the Holy Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, scheduled for 6 PM. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the hearts of the Catholic faithful, particularly among the Mexican community and other Latin American countries. It commemorates the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City in 1531.