Easter Without Pope: How Catholics Prepare for Holy Week
Doctors prescribed the 88 -year -old Pope two months of rest to allow his aging body to be completely healed, which means that he can spend a large part or the whole passionate week – when Christians recall the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus – far from public attention.
| « This will certainly be a very different passionate week for the Pope and for the believing Catholics, » said Anna Rowlands, a lecturer at Durham University of English. |
The Pope usually leads at least eight ceremonies in the Vatican during a passionate week, the culmination of which is the Easter liturgy, when tens of thousands of people flock to St. Peter Square to celebrate the day of the Resurrection of Christ.
Vatican staff are still not sure if Francis, who was close to death, may try to make brief appearances or participate in some of the events through a video connection.
Pope Francis has been a step away from death while doctors are in the dilemma of treatment
Reverend Bruce Moril, a Jesuit priest and lecturer at Vanderbilt University in the United States, said that « the Pope’s perseverance and transparency in his infirmity give a new touch » to the holiday.
« It is possible for people to draw strength and inspiration of a different type with the limited presence of the Pope in this year’s services of passionate week, » he said.
Francis, Pope since 2013, has only only appeared once since he was discharged on March 23 after a 38-day stay in hospital, making a brief surprising appearance to congratulate the people who came to the Vatican on April 6.
The Pope thanked the believers at his first public appearance after discharge from the hospital
He only spent a few minutes on St. Peter Square and said only a few words in a weak voice.
His eventual participation in events during the passion week will be determined for each event individually, the Vatican press service announced on Tuesday.
Cardinals instead of Pope
The Vatican’s Holy Week calendar includes special celebrations on April 17 for Holy Thursday, which celebrates Jesus’s secret dinner; On April 18, for Good Friday, the day on which Christians celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus; And on April 19 for the evening Easter vigil.
The Vatican still does not announce who will lead the services. The expectation is to replace the Pope, if necessary.
Francis missed the events of Good Friday 2023 and 2024 due to health problems, but has never been absent from Easter celebration when he usually pronounces great speech.
As part of a special blessing twice a year called « Urbi et orbi » (the city and the world), the Pope usually uses the case to condemn the ongoing world conflicts.
The Vatican publishes from time to time messages that are said to have been written by Francis during its recovery. Officials also read the voice sermons written by him during the Vatican celebrations.
« If he is still resting as expected, his service to the church seems to be a prayer and written reflection, » Rowlands says.
« I suspect … He will have many things he wants to write, even if he reads with the voice of another, about suffering, limitations, violence and loss and the path to the resurrection, » she said.
