The Christmas function began immediately after the Christmas Eve mass.

弥撒后，我们一整晚的活动很快开始了。

youdao

Christmas Eve Mass was held at 10 p.m last year, so the Pope, who was 82 years old at the time, would be well-rested for Christmas Day services.

前一年的圣诞弥撒于夜里10时举办，所以当时82岁高龄的教宗需要为圣诞节的仪式好好休息。

youdao

The Pope celebrated Christmas Eve Mass two hours earlier than the usual midnight starting time in a move by the Vatican to ease his busy holiday commitments.

教皇庆祝圣诞夜弥撒的时间比以往午夜开始的传统提早了两个小时。梵蒂冈如此安排是为了缓解教皇繁忙的节日安排。

youdao

On Monday, Christmas Eve Mass in the Vatican, usually celebrated at midnight, was brought forward by two hours to avoid tiring the 85-year-old pontiff.

BBC: Pope Benedict in Christmas plea for Syria solution

In Bethlehem itself, Christmas Eve Mass was celebrated at the 1, 700-year-old Church of the Nativity, on the spot where it is believed Jesus was born.

BBC: Pope Benedict in Christmas plea for Syria solution

Since the town came under Palestinian rule in 1995, Mr Arafat has attended both the Western Christmas Eve Mass and the Greek Orthodox Christmas on 6 January.

BBC: Israel to lift Bethlehem blockade