Vatican Announces Holy Week Schedule Amid Pope's Recovery
The Vatican has unveiled the calendar of liturgical celebrations for Holy Week and the Octave of Easter, running from Palm Sunday on April 13 to Easter Sunday, which falls on April 20, leading up to the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis on April 27. Currently, the agenda does not confirm the presence of Pope Francis or other celebrants.
Pope Francis, who recently spent 38 days in the hospital battling pneumonia, was discharged on Sunday but is expected to undergo a two-month recovery period. His health raises questions about his ability to participate in the services during this significant liturgical period.
Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young Italian who passed away from leukaemia at the tender age of 15 in 2006, is set to become an official saint. He is admired by many young believers and is often celebrated as a modern model of Christian life and the patron saint of the internet. Acutis was beatified on October 10, 2020, in Assisi and will be canonized during the upcoming Roman Catholic Jubilee on April 27, a moment expected to draw considerable attention and devotion from the faithful all over the world.
As the Vatican prepares for these significant events, the absence of the pope may influence the attendance of many pilgrims who typically flock to the Vatican during Holy Week. Nonetheless, the faithful remain hopeful for his swift recovery and participation in this crucial period for the Church.
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