The Pope's homely Christmas

WHILE PREPARING eight major sermons and allowing extra hours for festive prayer, Pope John Paul will still find time this weekend for Christmas trees, carols and many of the trappings of a traditional Polish Christmas.
The Pope will be joined on Christmas Eve by his household staff, his "family", in a meatless Polish supper prior to hymns and carols and a public Midnight Mass in St Peter's Basilica, where officials expect 25,000 Holy Year pilgrims. After a short sleep, the Pope will say early Mass in his private chapel. His third Christmas Mass, at 10.30 in St Peter's, will be followed by the midday balcony appearance in which he delivers his Christmas message, Orbi et Orbi. The message will be given in 40 languages, which he practices beforehand with a tape recorder.
On Boxing Day he will visit Rome's Rebibbia prison whence Mass will be broadcast throughout the world as a Holy Year celebration for prison inmates.
It is strongly rumoured that the Pope will meet Mehemet Ali Agca, his would-be assassin, during his visit to Rebibbia.
Archbishop Paul Marcinkus last week welcomed the arrival of a 50ft Christmas tree in St Peter's Square. A present from the Tyrol region of Austria, the tree stands beside the obelisk at the centre of the square
At the Venerable English College, there is a keen demand for tickets for the presentation of Dick Whittington,