There is great anticipation for the celebration of Pope Leo XIV's first Corpus Christi. It's one of the few times in the year when a pontiff leaves the Vatican walls to preside over a celebration as the Bishop of Rome.
There won’t be just the Mass for the celebration of this solemnity. In the Eternal City, there is an ancient tradition: a procession that goes from St. John Lateran to St. Mary Major.
Over the years, different popes participated in different ways. Take a look at Pope Saint John Paul II in 2004, seated in a chair atop the popemobile during his last Corpus Christi.
Or Pope Benedict XVI, who followed the Eucharist kneeling in a slow-moving vehicle, with thousands of faithful behind him, walking with candles.
In his first year, Pope Francis chose to walk the route on foot, rather than ride in the vehicle like his predecessors. In 2013, it was the first and last time he was seen that way in the streets of Rome.
In the following years, after celebrating Mass in the cathedral, Pope Francis would appear directly at St. Mary Major and did not take part in the procession.
The reason for this choice was never made public. One possible explanation is that he wanted to emphasize that the true focus of the procession was the Eucharist, not the pope.
The Argentinean Pope also introduced a few changes. In several years, he chose to celebrate Corpus Christi in other parts of Rome. For example, in 2018, he went to Ostia, where he presided over a Mass attended by about 10,000 people.
Due to coronavirus restrictions, Pope Francis celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in 2020 and 2021. And there were other years when he couldn’t attend due to health reasons.
In 2024, Pope Francis returned to Rome after seven years to celebrate Corpus Christi. It was the last Corpus Christi celebration he presided over.
Now, the new Pope takes up the mantle. Pope Leo will go to St. John Lateran to celebrate Mass and has confirmed that he will be present afterward at St. Mary Major. As for the procession, how he will participate remains a mystery for now.
We'll have to wait until Sunday to see what style Pope Leo XIV brings to important celebrations like Corpus Christi.
CA
Trans. CRT
