The Pope’s agenda for the month of February will be primarily shaped by the spiritual exercises which will be held at the Apostolic Palace this year. They will be Pope Leo’s first as pontiff, and he will undertake them with the Roman Curia from February 22 to 27.
But there are other major events before this. On February 2, the Pope will preside over a Mass at St. Peter’s for the World Day of Consecrated Life, which is always celebrated on that date. This event also coincides with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, instituted by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997.
Starting on February 15, Pope Leo will begin a series of pastoral visits to parishes in the Diocese of Rome. These will continue through March. During these visits, he will meet with local communities and preside over Mass celebrations.
Lent begins on February 18, setting in motion a tradition observed by the Vatican every Ash Wednesday: the Pope and the Roman Curia will move to one of the seven historic hills of the Eternal City.
A penitential procession will begin from the Church of St. Anselm, ending at the Basilica of Santa Sabina. There the Pope will preside over a celebration of the Mass, during which the usual imposition of ashes will take place.
As tradition dictates, the day after Ash Wednesday, on February 19, the Pope will meet with the clergy of the Diocese of Rome inside the Paul VI Audience Hall.
Moving forward into February, the traditional Angelus prayer will continue to be recited every Sunday from the Apostolic Palace.
General audiences will also continue, but on Wednesday the 28th, they will most likely be suspended. The Pope will be on spiritual retreat on those days, and it is customary for him to cancel his schedule to devote himself exclusively to the retreat and to prayer.
BAM / CA
Trans. CRT
