Pope’s Lenten schedule

February 28, 2014 - Pope Francis, cardinals, bishops and other Vatican officials will hold their week-long Lenten spiritual retreat outside the Vatican for the first time in living memory. The Vatican on Thursday released the Pope's Lenten calendar of liturgical services in March and April - including the Holy Week and Easter. The retreat, a periodical spiritual renewal consists of listening to preaching, prayer and reflection. The Argentine Pope’s first annual retreat as Pontiff will be held from March 9-14 in the relatively simple building of a religious institution in the town of Ariccia, in the Alban Hills about 24 km away from the Vatican. History’s first Jesuit and American pontiff, is carrying on a tradition of his religious order to hold spiritual retreats away from the normal place of work in order to avoid distraction and inspire contemplation. Another highlight of the Pope’s March-April schedule is the canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter's Square on April 27, on the Sunday after Easter.

The Pope’s calendar includes the addition of a Lenten "penitential service," but does not say where he will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper. Last year, Pope Francis moved the Holy Thursday evening Mass and the Washing of the Feet ritual from St. Peter's Basilica to Rome's Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center where he washed the feet of young offenders. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the Pope once again will choose a "special situation from a pastoral point of view" for the setting of his Holy Thursday Mass. The location will be announced later, but it will not be a Mass open to the public, he said.

The calendar released by the Vatican Feb. 27 included:
- March 5: Ash Wednesday procession from Rome's Basilica of St. Anselm to the Basilica of Santa Sabina for Mass and the imposition of ashes.
- March 9-14: Lenten retreat with officials from the Roman Curia in Ariccia, outside Rome.
- March 16: Evening visit to Rome's Santa Maria dell'Orazione parish for Mass and meetings.
- March 28: Penitential liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica.
- April 6: Pastoral visit to an unnamed Rome parish.
- April 13: Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square.
- April 17: Holy Thursday, morning chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
- April 18: Good Friday afternoon liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica. Nighttime Way of the Cross in Rome's Colosseum.
- April 19: Easter vigil at 8:30 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.
- April 20: Easter morning Mass in St. Peter's Square, followed by the papal blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world).
- April 27: Canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.