Pope Francis will celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at the Vatican, but it will be inside and without pilgrims. It will be on the Altar of the Chair, near the back of the basilica, with a few close collaborators. This means the traditional procession with palms from the obelisk in the square will not happen.
With this ceremony begins a unique Holy Week. It will be behind closed doors and without the thousands of faithful who usually flood the Roman streets. The liturgy will only be followed by streaming.
To supplant the lack of physical closeness, the pope has increased his internet appearances. Now, for example, he live-streams his daily Mass. He has also not deleted any weekly appointments he had with pilgrims, like the general audiences on Wednesdays nor the Angelus on Sundays.
For these reasons, on Palm Sunday the pope will deliver a message to help Christians live out Holy Week during a pandemic.
Javier Romero
Melissa Butz
