VATICAN CITY, Italy – As millions of Catholics around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, many also took the time to watch the Midnight Mass homily of Pope Benedict XVI. For those who missed the said celebration, here is the full text of His Holiness’ homily:

Dear Brothers and Sisters! The reading from Saint Paul’s Letter to Titus that we have just heard begins solemnly with the word “apparuit,” which then comes back again in the reading at the Dawn Mass: apparuit–“there has appeared.”