The schedule of Holy Week activities to be presided over by Pope Benedict XVI is as follows:
Palm Sunday - 9th April 2006:
Palm Sunday and Our Lord's Passion. 21st World Youth Day on the theme: "Your word is a
lamp to my feet and a light to my path." At 9.30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, the Holy
Father will bless palms and olive branches and, at the end of the procession, will
celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Passion.
Holy Thursday - 13th April 2006:
In St. Peter's Basilica at 9.30 a.m., the Holy Father will preside at the concelebration
of the Chrism Mass with cardinals, bishops, and diocesan and religious priests present
in Rome, as a sign of the close union between the pastor of the Universal Church and
his brothers in the priestly ministry.
The Easter Triduum of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection will begin in the Basilica
of St. John Lateran at 5.30 p.m. with the Mass of Our Lord's Last Supper. The Holy
Father will preside at the concelebration of the Mass.
After the homily, the rite of the washing of the feet of 12 priests will take place.
During this rite, those present will be invited to give alms for the victims of landslides
in Maasin, Philippines. The sum collected will be given to the Holy Father at the
presentation of the gifts.
At the end of the celebration the Blessed Sacrament will be transferred to the chapel of reposition.
Good Friday - 14th April 2006:
The Holy Father will preside at the celebration of the Passion of Our Lord in the
Vatican Basilica at 5.00p.m
He will lead the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum at 9.15 p.m. and, in conclusion,
will address some words to the faithful and impart his apostolic blessing.
Holy Saturday - 15th April 2006:
The Easter Vigil will begin at 10.00 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, when the Pope will
bless the new fire in the atrium of the church. After the entrance procession with the
Easter candle and the singing of the "Exultet," he will preside at the Liturgy of the
Word and the Baptismal and Eucharistic liturgies, which he will concelebrate with the
cardinals.
Easter Sunday - 16th April 2006:
At 10.30 a.m., Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square, after which he
will impart the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing ("to the city and the world") from the central
loggia of the Vatican Basilica.
Ends
Source: Vatican Information Service
|
|
