In his Maundy Thursday homily, the Holy Father, as usual, talks about the priestly vocation.
The holy three days of Easter in Rome began with the Chrism consecration mass on the morning of Maundy Thursday, the ceremonies of which are led by Pope Francis. In the afternoon, he performs the foot washing ceremony with the female inmates of a Roman prison.
The head of the church presented the mass at the main altar in St. Peter's Basilica, followed and read the entire text of his homily.
On Palm Sunday, he did not give a speech, instead he prayed in silence.
Cardinals and bishops concelebrated at the consecration Mass led by Pope Francis. In his Maundy Thursday homily, the Pope, as usual, talks about the priestly vocation.
During Chrism Mass, Pope Francis thanks priests for their heroic witness, and urges them, like St. Peter, to draw closer to Christ. https://t.co/Ccr4z1gLEZ
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) March 28, 2024
As the bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church consecrated the holy oil used in the administration of the sacraments: the chrism used at confirmation, as well as the oil for those about to be baptized and the sick. The bishop and the clergy of the diocese renewed their priestly vows.
In the afternoon, the ceremony of washing the feet comes to life in memory of the Last Supper. Pope Francis visits the women's wing of Rebibbia prison in Rome.
Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis does not wash the feet of his fellow priests, but visits a different location every year since his election. The only exception was the period of the pandemic.
In the last 11 years, he has visited a hospital, nursing home, migrant center, but mostly in prison: in 2015 in Rome's Rebibbia prison, in 2017 in Paliano prison, in 2018 in Regina Coeli prison near the Vatican, in 2019 in Velletri prison, and in 2022 he visited the prison of the port city of Civitavecchia, where he washed the feet of twelve of the five hundred prisoners. In 2013 and last year he was in the Casal del Marmo prison reserved for juveniles.
The ceremony is not open to the public, but the Vatican broadcasts it live on the Internet.
On Maundy Thursday, the silenced bells in the churches of the world "arrive" in Rome.
In the afternoon of Good Friday, the liturgy of the Passion of the Lord takes place in St. Peter's Basilica, and in the evening, the traditional Via Crucis is held at the Colosseum.
This is the first time that Pope Francis has written the text of the meditations accompanying the Stations of the Cross, which will be made public on Friday.
Then it becomes clear who carries the cross at the various stations. On Holy Saturday, from 8:30 p.m., the Pope will lead an Easter Vigil in the Vatican Basilica.
On Easter Sunday morning, the head of the church presents a mass in St. Peter's Square. At noon, Pope Francis delivers an Easter message in Italian, the traditional theme of which is peace. Finally, Urbi et Orbi gives a blessing to the city of Rome and to the world.
MTI
Cover image: This time, Pope Francis read the entire text of his homily
Source: Facebook/Vatican News