NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected to gather at Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City on Sunday to attend Easter Mass and receive a traditional blessing from Pope Francis.
The 87-year-old pontiff will lead the mass starting at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) and will deliver the “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing at noon, with the proceedings being broadcast live globally, according to an AFP report.
Easter Sunday signifies the resurrection of Jesus Christ and marks the culmination of Holy Week, a significant period in the Catholic calendar observed by 1.3 billion believers.
Pope Francis on Saturday over the Easter Vigil at the Vatican, where he addressed around 6,000 attendees from various parts of the world. Despite concerns about his health following a sudden cancellation at a major Good Friday event, the pontiff delivered a 10-minute homily in Italian, denouncing “the walls of selfishness and indifference” prevalent in today’s world.
The Vatican had announced a precautionary measure for the pope to follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence in preparation for the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass. While some have raised questions about his ability to continue leading the Catholic Church, a Vatican source told AFP that there is “no particular concern” about his health, and that the decision to pull out had been “simply a measure of caution”.
Pope Francis had previously missed the “Via Crucis” event in 2023 due to health issues, including a hospital stay for bronchitis and a subsequent hernia operation. Despite his recent appearance of fatigue and delegating speaking roles to others, the pope had been fulfilling his engagements until the last-minute cancellation.
Having refrained from taking holidays, with his last trip being to Marseille in September, Pope Francis has canceled his attendance at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai and is scheduled for a trip to Venice in late April. However, the Vatican has yet to confirm a planned visit to Asian and Pacific Ocean nations this summer.
In a recent memoir, Pope Francis acknowledged the possibility of resigning if he could no longer fulfill his duties, following the precedent set by his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who voluntarily stepped down in 2013. The pontiff emphasized that he currently sees no reason significant enough to consider resigning from his position.
The 87-year-old pontiff will lead the mass starting at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) and will deliver the “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing at noon, with the proceedings being broadcast live globally, according to an AFP report.
Easter Sunday signifies the resurrection of Jesus Christ and marks the culmination of Holy Week, a significant period in the Catholic calendar observed by 1.3 billion believers.
Pope Francis on Saturday over the Easter Vigil at the Vatican, where he addressed around 6,000 attendees from various parts of the world. Despite concerns about his health following a sudden cancellation at a major Good Friday event, the pontiff delivered a 10-minute homily in Italian, denouncing “the walls of selfishness and indifference” prevalent in today’s world.
The Vatican had announced a precautionary measure for the pope to follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence in preparation for the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass. While some have raised questions about his ability to continue leading the Catholic Church, a Vatican source told AFP that there is “no particular concern” about his health, and that the decision to pull out had been “simply a measure of caution”.
Pope Francis had previously missed the “Via Crucis” event in 2023 due to health issues, including a hospital stay for bronchitis and a subsequent hernia operation. Despite his recent appearance of fatigue and delegating speaking roles to others, the pope had been fulfilling his engagements until the last-minute cancellation.
Having refrained from taking holidays, with his last trip being to Marseille in September, Pope Francis has canceled his attendance at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai and is scheduled for a trip to Venice in late April. However, the Vatican has yet to confirm a planned visit to Asian and Pacific Ocean nations this summer.
In a recent memoir, Pope Francis acknowledged the possibility of resigning if he could no longer fulfill his duties, following the precedent set by his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who voluntarily stepped down in 2013. The pontiff emphasized that he currently sees no reason significant enough to consider resigning from his position.