Pope Leo’s Triduum plans: What’s new?
The Pillar • • world
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Easter Triduum with a return to traditional practices, including celebrating the Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. John Lateran Cathedral instead of in a prison, as Pope Francis often did.
- On Good Friday, Pope Leo will personally carry the cross throughout the entire Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum, a first for a pope, symbolizing his role as a spiritual leader and bearer of Christ’s suffering.
- The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday will include baptisms and confirmations, followed by Easter Sunday Mass and the Urbi et Orbi blessing at St. Peter’s Basilica, with the square decorated by thousands of Dutch flowers continuing a tradition started after Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Netherlands.
- The Good Friday Passion liturgy will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica, with the homily usually given by the papal household preacher, though it is unclear if Pope Leo will preach himself.
- On Easter Monday, the pope will lead the Regina Caeli prayer in St. Peter’s Square, after which he is expected to retreat to the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo.
