Pope’s Holy Week schedule

25 March, 2013 - Pope Francis who ushered in the Holy Week with Palm Sunday has a busy Easter Triduum ahead this week culminating in Easter Sunday. Msgr. Guido Marini, the Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations on Monday released the papal schedule for the Holy Week. Pope Francis will celebrate the traditional Holy Thursday Chrism Mass in the morning in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, together with the clergy of Rome Diocese of which he is bishop. Chrism Mass is celebrated by bishops along with their clergy in commemoration of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, during which he shared his priesthood with his disciples, instituting the Holy Eucharist. During the Mass, the clergy and the bishop renew their vows of fidelity to Christ. Holy oils or chrism that will be used during the coming year at Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders are blessed at the Mass. Oils to anoint the sick and catechumens are also blessed. However, in a break from tradition, Pope Francis decided to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Thursday evening, at the Casal del Marmo youth detention centre of Rome, rather than at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome diocese. Instead of washing priests' feet in a symbolic gesture of Christ’s humility on Holy Thursday, Pope Francis will wash the feet of young detainees at the centre. On Good Friday evening, Pope Francis will celebrate the Passion of the Lord liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica in commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Christ. At night he will join the traditional Way of the Cross at Rome’s Coliseum, at the end of which he will share a brief reflection and bless the faithful there. Saturday night’s Easter Vigil liturgy will take place in St. Peter’s Basilica. The following morning, Easter Sunday, the Pope will celebrate Mass in the open in St. Peter’s Square, at the end of which he will deliver his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing.