Calendar of the Pope’s services for Holy Week

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Way of the Cross in St. Peter's Square (April 10, 2020)
Way of the Cross in St. Peter’s Square (April 10, 2020) (Vatican Media)

The Vatican Press Hall has unveiled the timetable for Pope Francis’s services from Palm Sunday to Monday in the Octave of Easter.

Victor Vladimirov – Vatican City

All ceremonies, which during this period will be led by Pope Francis, will be held with a limited number of participants, “in accordance with the envisaged sanitary measures,” the message says.

On March 28, Holy Palm Sunday Mass will begin at 10:30 am at the altar of the Cathedral in St. Peter’s Basilica.

On April 1 at 10 o’clock in the morning – also at the altar of the Cathedral – Pope Francis will celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the consecration of the world and the blessing of oil.

The Holy Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday will begin at 6 pm and will be chaired by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.

On Good Friday, April 2, at 5 pm, Pope Francis will celebrate the Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the evening of the same day, at 21 hours 15 minutes, the Holy Father will lead the Way of the Cross at the entrance to the Vatican Basilica, as it was a year ago.

According to the press service director Matteo Bruni, the preparation of meditations for the Way of the Cross was entrusted to a group of scouts from Umbria and children from the Roman parish of the Holy Ugandan Martyrs. These will be “simple and direct words, while fully aware of the meaning of discrimination and humiliation, as well as justice and solidarity,” says the Vatican Press Hall communiqué. The Stations of the Way of the Cross will be accompanied by drawings of children and youth from two Roman orphanages – Mater Divini Amoris and Tetto Casal Fattoria.

On April 3, the Easter Vigil under the leadership of Pope Francis will begin at 19:30 at the altar of the Cathedral in St. Peter’s Basilica. On Sunday morning, April 4, at 10 o’clock, the Bishop of Rome will lead the Easter Mass in the Vatican Basilica, after which he will address the message Urbi et Orbi – “To the City and the World” – and give a solemn blessing.

The next day, Monday, April 5, the Holy Father will lead the midday prayer “Queen of Heaven” from the library of the Apostolic Palace.

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