Welcome to this week’s Vaticano Updates, bringing you the most important news from Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican as the Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close.

Jubilee of Prisoners: Justice as Reconciliation

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a special Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the Jubilee of Prisoners, addressing inmates, prison guards, and their families. In his homily, the Holy Father emphasized that no human being should be defined solely by his or her actions. He stressed that justice must always be understood as a path toward reparation and reconciliation, rather than punishment alone.

The Jubilee Year has placed renewed attention on life behind bars, following a historic moment last year when Pope Francis opened a Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia Prison, highlighting the Church’s closeness to those deprived of their freedom.

Christmas Decorations, Pro-Life Witness, and a Surprise Visit

During an audience with the donors of this year’s Vatican Christmas decorations, Pope Leo XIV thanked them for their generosity, describing the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene as powerful signs of faith and hope.

The Holy Father paused in particular before the Costa Rican Nativity displayed in the Paul VI Hall, which features a pregnant Virgin Mary and is adorned with 28,000 colored ribbons, each representing a life saved from abortion through support offered to mothers in difficulty.

In an unscheduled visit, Pope Leo XIV also attended the Christmas concert at the Pontifical Paul VI School in Castel Gandolfo. Sitting alongside parents, he listened as more than 200 students sang Christmas carols in several languages. Thanking the children and teachers for the invitation, the Pope quoted a popular Italian song, reminding them that at Christmas “you can do more,” and encouraged everyone to proclaim peace, love, and unity in the world.

Upcoming Consistory and New EWTN Series

The Holy Father is also planning to convene an extraordinary consistory of cardinals in early January. According to a brief statement from the Vatican Secretariat of State, the consistory is scheduled for January 7 and 8, 2026. Following his first ordinary public consistory for canonizations in June 2025, this will be Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory and the second of his pontificate.

Meanwhile, at the Vatican’s own movie theater, Catholic actor and director David Henrie premiered the first episode of his new EWTN travel series, “Seeking Beauty.” The program follows him through six Italian cities, exploring how art, food, and culture can lead hearts to God. The series will be available worldwide on EWTN’s free streaming platform, EWTN Plus, beginning January 19, 2026.

As always, thank you for joining us for this week’s Vaticano Updates.