Vatican City: Following the coronation of the state by the government, the church will not be allowed to participate in the Holy Week ceremonies of the Vatican next month. The prefectures in charge of the papal residence have announced via the Vatican website that the holy weekly rituals are being carried out without the presence of believers. It is the duty of the prefect to be in charge of the papal residence, offering free tickets for the Pope’s Wednesday public viewing and other public rites.
Pope Francis will begin the Mass with the Mass on Sunday, April 5, at St. Peter’s Square. The Passover is celebrated on the 9th of April at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope will pay homage at St. Peter’s Basilica before heading to the Colosseum in Rome on Friday. The Easter Vigil will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday night. The Easter Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Square. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter’s Square at 12 noon followed by the Pope’s ‘Urbi et Orbi’. But there is no indication that believers can enter here.
At the same time, it is not clear whether there is a difference in the time or place where the Holy Mass is offered. The Pope’s public viewing on Wednesday and the Sunday Tri-Prayer will be broadcast live until April 12, according to the prefecture’s website. As a precaution against spreading the coronavirus, the emergency situation in Italy will continue until April 3rd. St. Peter’s Square was closed by the Italian police on March 10th. Italy has the largest number of people infected with the coronavirus outside Asia, and the largest number of deaths.
