The Pope attends the celebration of the Passion of Christ at the Vatican. On Good Friday, when Catholics commemorate the Calvary and Death of Jesus of Nazareth, Francis presides over the celebration of the Passion in St. Peter's Basilica, when he traditionally meditates completely lying down at the tomb of the apostle.
This is the only day in the liturgical calendar where mass is not celebrated, and that is why the pontiff and his clergy will simply listen and reflect on the homily of the Vatican preacher, Cardinal and Capuchin friar Raniero Cantalamessa.
Already in the Roman night, the Pope will preside over the Way of the Cross in the Colosseum, a symbol of the persecution of the first Christians, a rite suspended by the pandemic and which this year will take place with the war in Ukraine as a worrying backdrop.
Francis does not hide his efforts to this conflict and is even thinking of taking a trip to Kiev and, in order to send a message of reconciliation, it has been proposed that the cross, in one part of its journey, be carried by a Ukrainian and a Russian family.
However, the initiative has met with the reluctance of the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, who does not welcome celebrating anything with the Russians given the invasion that his country has suffered for almost two months.
In any case, it will be time to think about the martyrdom of the world, such as the war that is currently ravaging Ukraine, to which Francis has in fact sent his almoner, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who is planning to celebrate another Way of the Cross in Kiev.
On Holy Saturday, the Pope will preside over the Easter Vigil, which awaits the resurrection of Christ, baptizing and confirming some adults, and the next day will reach Easter, when he will impart the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, to Rome and the world.
An act that the Pope, looking out at the central lodge of the Vatican Basilica, takes advantage of to review the main conflicts and tensions on the planet.
(With information from EFE)
KEEP READING: