The Holy See press room announced this Tuesday, April 15 that pope Francis would not participate in the celebrations of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. He will delegate to three cardinals the presidency of the chrismal mass, the celebration of the passion of Christ and the Stations of the Cross.
Skilled appearance of the Pope on Saint-Pierre square during the branches © Vatican Media
Regarding his presence at the Pascale vigil on Saturday evening, the Easter mass and the traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” on the Saint-Pierre square on Sunday, the Vatican will not be pronounced until the end of the week.
Thursday morning, the Mass chrismale will be chaired in the Saint-Pierre basilica by Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, emeritus president of the administration of the heritage of the apostolic seat (APSA). In the evening, the Mass of the Lord’s last Supper will also be celebrated in Saint-Pierre, but it will not be a pontifical celebration. Usually, the Pope celebrates the Holy Last Supper in a detention center in Rome.
Good Friday, the Mass of the Passion of the Lord will take place at the end of the afternoon in the Saint-Pierre Basilica, and will be celebrated by Cardinal Claudio GUGEROTTI, prefect of the Dicastère for the Eastern Churches. The traditional road from the Colosseum will then be chaired by the vicar general of the diocese of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina. The meditations of the Cross of the Cross were prepared by the Pope himself, and will be published on Friday noon.
A health that improves
Skilled appearance of the Pope on Saint-Pierre square during the branches © Vatican Media
The Vatican also announces that the Pope gradually resumes his pastoral activities. A little more than three weeks after leaving the hospital, he has less and less resorting to oxygen therapy, and net improvements are noted in terms of motor skills, breathing and voice.
According to the directives of doctors of the Gemelli clinic, he must remain at least a month in recovery in his Sainte-Marthe residence and avoid any prolonged contact with large groups.
The pope could nevertheless certainly participate in his own way in these ceremonies, as he did for the Mass of the Palm last Sunday, when he came to greet the faithful quickly in the Place Saint-Pierre at the end of the celebration.
