ROME, December 25. /TASS/. Catholics worldwide, as well as Protestants, Anglicans and a number of Orthodox believers who use the Gregorian calendar, celebrate Christmas on Monday.

Pope Francis served Mass at the St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Christmas Eve on Sunday night. In the post-pandemic era, Christmas Eve Mass starts two hours earlier than usual.

Church-goers will expect the pontiff to deliver his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city [of Rome] and to the world) papal address from the central balcony of the cathedral later on Monday. As a rule, apart from proclaiming the joy of Christmas, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also comments on the pressing issues of our time.

There are more than 1.2 bln Catholics in the world. Apart from major Catholic countries, there exist Catholic communities that vary in size in Arab, Asian and other nations, too.