The Vatican Press Office has released the details of the Holy Week celebrations that Pope Francis will preside over in Rome.
The Pope resumes the Holy Week celebrations, which for the last two years have been affected by the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Palm Sunday, 10 April, the Holy Father will bless the palms and olive trees of the faithful present in Saint Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. In addition, at the end of the procession, he will preside over the Eucharistic celebration.
On April 14, Holy Thursday, the Pope will preside at the Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 a.m. together with the patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and priests (diocesan and religious) present in Rome.
In the Chrism Mass, the chrism or oil that will be used in the administration of the sacraments is blessed and also the priests renew their priestly promises.
On April 15, Good Friday, the Pope will preside over the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5:00 p.m.; and the long-awaited Via Crucis, which had been suspended for two consecutive years due to the pandemic, will take place at 9:15 p.m. at the Colosseum.
On Holy Saturday, April 16, Pope Francis will preside over the Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica at 7:30 p.m.
The Holy Father will bless the new fire in the atrium of the basilica. After the entrance procession with the Paschal candle and the singing of the Exsultet, he will preside over the liturgy of the Word, the baptismal liturgy and the Eucharistic liturgy, which will be concelebrated with the cardinals, bishops and priests who so wish.
On April 17, Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will preside at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:00 a.m.
At the end of the celebration, from the central balcony of the Basilica, he will impart the Urbi et Orbi blessing (for the city and the world).