The Pope’s Liturgical Schedule for Lent and Easter

On March 9, the third Friday in Lent, Pope Francis will preside over a “celebration of the Sacrament of Penance” at 5:00 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica. Traditionally, the pope hears a few confessions and goes to confession himself. 

On Saturday in Passion Week, March 17, 2018, the Holy Father plans to travel to Pietrelcina – in the diocese of Benevento – and San Giovanni Rotondo for the 50th anniversary of the death of Padre Pio and the centenary of the apparition of the stigmata on his body.

The Pope will inaugurate Holy Week on March 25, Palm Sunday. He will preside over the procession in St. Peter’s Square commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with palms and olive branches, before celebrating Mass.

On Holy Thursday, March 29, Pope Francis will preside over the Chrism Mass in the morning at the Vatican Basilica, then go to an undisclosed location for the washing of the feet and the Evening Mass.

On Good Friday, March 30, in the late afternoon, the pope will preside over the Office of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica, and later participate in the Stations of the Cross that will begin at the Coliseum at sundown.

The Paschal Vigil will take place on Saturday, March 31, in the Vatican Basilica. Pope Francis will bless the fire in the entrance and light the paschal candle. After the procession into the church and the traditional singing of the Exultet, the triumphant hymn of the resurrection sung on East night, the pope will celebrate Mass.

On Easter Sunday, April 1, Francis will celebrate the morning Mass in the square of the Vatican Basilica, then give his Urbi et Orbi blessing from the central balcony; a plenary indulgence is attached to this blessing, with the ordinary conditions, even for those who watch or listen to the blessing on TV, the radio, or the Internet.