Pope Francis presides over the Liturgy of Light during the Easter Vigil Mass on March 30, 2024 in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
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Pope Francis celebrated more than two hours of Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, one of the longest services in Catholic liturgy, amid renewed concerns about the 87-year-old pontiff’s frail health. Feel worried.
His voice sounded hoarse and breathless at times, but he read all the prepared words, including a sermon that was more than a page long, smiling and waving to the congregation as he left in his wheelchair.
On other occasions, Francis delegated longer readings to aides.
The pope skipped a nighttime Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome on Friday at the last minute, which the Vatican said was to “protect his health” ahead of other Holy Week events.
The surprising move comes after Francis repeatedly limited his public speaking and canceled events for weeks as he battled alleged colds, bronchitis and flu.
The pope also has limited mobility due to a knee ailment and often uses a wheelchair or crutches.
Francis looked better on Thursday as he performed a foot-washing ceremony at a women’s prison, recalling Jesus’ humble gestures to the apostles at the Last Supper and Good Friday services in St. Peter’s Basilica .
Holy Week consists of several solemn ceremonies leading up to Easter Sunday, the most important holiday in the Christian calendar, celebrating the day when believers believe Jesus rose from the dead.
Saturday night’s worship service at Christendom’s largest church began in almost complete darkness before the lights came on, meaning people moved from darkness to light when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead.
The Vatican said about 6,000 people attended the event.
In his homily, Francis recalled the stone that sealed Jesus’ tomb being rolled away at his resurrection, and he urged Christians to keep their faith even under the pressure of grief, fear or other adversity.
Among other things, he noted, “rubber walls of selfishness and indifference impede our efforts to build more just and humane cities and societies” and that “all our aspirations for peace are crushed by brutal hatred and violence.” . The cruelty of war. ”
Pope Francis will conclude Easter celebrations with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday and a biannual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing and address from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica .
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