The tradition of singing Christmas carols from the various continents in the quadriporticus of the Pontifical Gregorian University in the breaks between classes dates back to 1954. It has always been a much-awaited moment and a strong opportunity to grow as a community, as many alumni remember so many years later. Also in the A. Y. 2025-2026, Christmas carols accompanied us from 9 December to 19 December, concluding with the traditional professors' choir and greetings from Rector Fr. Mark Lewis S.J.
‘We are preparing to celebrate the coming of Jesus, who comes to give himself freely to each of us and involve us personally,’ recalled the Rector, addressing the university community gathered in the Atrium. ‘As Pope Leo XIV reminded us on 6 December, “the birth of Jesus reveals to us an engaging God: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and later John the Baptist, the disciples and all those who meet the Lord are involved, they are called to participate”. I wish you to keep your hearts alive, awaiting the coming of Jesus and opening your hearts wide to him, leaving aside all our weaknesses and expressing our “Yes” to his invitation to participate in his plan. His hand will always support us, even when we have lost all hope, and he will be the first to reach out to us, as he does every day. My thoughts go out in particular to those of you who will not be able to return home to celebrate the holidays in your own country, to those who feel lonely or are suffering. I hope that in this intercultural university community, you have found friends with whom to welcome Jesus, with whom to celebrate together: each one of you is and will be in my prayers this Christmas.’
Classes at the Collegium Maximum and the Pontifical Biblical Institute will resume on 7 January 2026, and at the Pontifical Oriental Institute will resume on 8 January 2025.
The Libraries of the Collegium Maximum and the Pontifical Biblical Institute will be closed to the public from 24 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. The Library of the Pontifical Oriental Institute will reopen to the public on 8 January 2025.