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Why is the Feast of Christ the King observed near the end of the Roman Catholic church year?
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Church year
A church altar decorated with saint icons for All Saints' Day.
The Feast of Christ the King is observed on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, immediately preceding Advent, because its central theme of Christ’s dominion over all creation serves as a fitting conclusion to the liturgical year.1
Established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, the festival was originally celebrated on the last Sunday in October. However, following the 1969 revision of the liturgical calendar by Pope Paul VI, it was moved to its current position at the end of the annual cycle. This placement emphasizes the eschatological focus of the liturgy, which reenacts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a testament to Christian hope and the ultimate fulfillment of his reign.12