- Pope Francis celebrates the Easter Vigil liturgy in Rome to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Before the big Easter mass on Sunday on St. Peter’s Square in front of what is expected to be tens of thousands of believers, the Easter Vigil on Saturday is the most important service of the church year.
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross is celebrated on the Holy Night before Easter Sunday.
- The head of the Catholic Church had previously celebrated the Good Friday liturgy “Passion and Death of the Lord” in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Easter Vigil ceremony traditionally begins with the procession into the dark cathedral behind the Easter candle, where the candles of the priests and believers are lit to the call “Lumen Christi” (Light of Christ).
In the Good Friday liturgy, the pontiff officially presided over the celebration, but the sermon was given by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the official preacher of the papal house. St. Peter’s Basilica was well attended on the occasion of the celebration on Good Friday commemorating the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Legend:
Pope Francis attended the Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica. However, the Mass was not presided over by the pontiff.
Reuters/VATICAN MEDIA
Francis wore a red robe and sat in a wheelchair, which he has been dependent on for a long time because of his severe knee problems. He therefore also refrained from lying down in front of the altar and praying, as is actually customary at the beginning of the Good Friday liturgy. This gesture is considered a sign of worship and prostration to God. Instead, Francis remained in silent prayer for a few moments.
Unusual 10°C in Rome
On Good Friday evening, the traditional Way of the Cross devotion is celebrated at the Colosseum in Rome. The wars in the world will be at the center of the ceremony. For example, two young people from Ukraine and Russia will take part, as the Holy See announced.
However, the pontifex gave up taking part in the procession against the backdrop of the ancient amphitheater at short notice. Because of “very cold these days” he will not follow the Stations of the Cross on site, it said.
Legend:
Francis decided against the procession in front of the Colosseum in Rome, partly because of the cool temperatures in the Italian capital.
REUTERS/Remo Casilli
The 86-year-old will join the prayers from the Vatican. Temperatures of around 10 degrees were expected in Rome in the evening, unusually cool for the time of year.
Francis was only released from the hospital last week after almost three days of treatment for bronchitis. A day after his discharge from the hospital, he was already leading the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square. During his public appearances over the past few days, the pontiff has occasionally been seen coughing.