Pope’s Holy Week and Easter Schedule

by CNS · March 14, 2023

Pope Francis holds palm fronds as he celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 10, 2022. The Vatican published Pope Francis’ calendar for Holy Week and Easter for 2023 on March 9. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

By Carol Glatz, CNS – The Vatican published Pope Francis’ calendar for Holy Week and Easter.

As is customary when first publishing the pope’s calendar for Holy Week, the Vatican did not provide the time or place for his celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 6. Pope Francis has made it a tradition to celebrate the Mass and foot-washing ritual at a prison or detention centre, refugee centre or rehabilitation facility.

Here is the schedule of papal liturgical ceremonies and events for April released by the Vatican on March 9:

– April 2, Palm Sunday, Mass in St Peter’s Square.

– April 6, Holy Thursday, morning chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

– April 7, Good Friday, afternoon liturgy of the Lord’s passion in St Peter’s Basilica.

– April 7, Way of the Cross at night in Rome’s Colosseum.

– April 8, Easter vigil Mass in the evening in St Peter’s Basilica.

– April 9, Easter morning Mass in St Peter’s Square, followed at noon by the pope’s blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

– April 28-30, Apostolic visit to Hungary.