The Mass was held in a rear section of St Peter's Basilica with fewer than 100 participants and only small number of cardinals and bishops. Pope Francis leads the Mass on Christmas Eve in St Peter's Basilica amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at the Vatican Dec 24, 2020. Italians are under a nationwide lockdown for much of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Non-essential shops will be shut between Dec 24-27, Dec 31-Jan 3 and Jan 5-6. The restrictions mean people will not be able to go to St Peter's Square or the basilica.

Source: bd News24 December 24, 2020 19:41 UTC