Cardinals named to take Pope’s place at Triduum, Easter liturgies

The Chrism Mass will be presided over this Thursday, April 17, at 9:30 a.m. by Cardinal Domenico Calcagno, President Emeritus of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA). Traditionally, the Chrism Mass is celebrated in each diocese on Holy Thursday, but it can be changed to another day of Holy Week. This Mass manifests the unity of the diocese, and is an opportunity for priests to renew the promises of their priestly ordination.

It is also during this celebration that the holy chrism is consecrated - which gives its name to the ceremony. This oil is used for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. The presiding bishop also blesses the oil of catechumens (used in Baptism) and the oil of the sick (used in Anointing of the Sick).

The other important Mass on Holy Thursday is that of the Lord's Supper, during which the rite of the washing of the feet takes place. While it was celebrated in the Basilica of St. John Lateran by his predecessors, this liturgy has taken place in various spots under the pontificate of Francis -- especially in prisons. No announcement about this year has therefore been made.

On Good Friday at 5 p.m., the celebration of the Lord's Passion will be presided over by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. This service commemorates the events that led to the death of Christ on the cross.

On Good Friday, no Mass is celebrated. During this liturgy, though, the faithful receive Communion that was previously consecrated. Traditionally, the homily is delivered by the preacher of the pontifical household: for the first time, it will be Father Roberto Pasolini, who succeeded Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa last November.

The traditional Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum will be held at 9 p.m. on Good Friday. The Pope, who was already absent in 2023 and 2024, will be replaced by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope's vicar for the diocese of Rome.

This act of popular devotion, which attracts a large crowd every year, commemorates the stages – or stations – of the Passion of Christ by torchlight. Pope Francis is preparing the meditations.

For the time being, the Holy See has not yet announced who will preside at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday at 7:30 pm in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, nor the Easter Sunday Mass, which will be held at 10:30 am in St. Peter's Square. Announcements are expected to be made in the coming days.

There is a general expectation that the Pope will somehow give the Easter "urbi et orbi" blessing, even if he doesn't pronounce the usual reflection he gives on that occasion.

After the publication of the above, word was given about the Easter liturgies.

Pope Francis has asked Cardinal Angelo Comastri, 81, to celebrate Easter Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. And he Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91. The details of the Urbi et Orbi blessing, which popes traditionally pronounce at noon, have not yet been announced.

On Saturday evening for the Easter Vigil, the Pope asked the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, to preside over the celebration in his place. At 91, this expert on the Roman Curia was reappointed by the Pope in February as Dean of the Sacred College. In this capacity, he will be the one to convene the conclave in the event of Francis' death or resignation. He will then play a central role in the general congregations that precede the vote in the Sistine Chapel. However, having passed the age of 80, he will not be able to participate in the conclave.

Cardinal Re was a key figure in John Paul II's pontificate, having served as Substitute Secretary of State from 1989 to 2000 — a position that, in layman's terms, is equivalent to the combined roles of chief of staff and interior minister to the pope. From 2000 to 2010, he served as Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

For Easter Sunday, Pope Francis has chosen another Italian: Cardinal Angelo Comastri served from 2005 to 2023 as Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and Vicar General for Vatican City.

At 81, this prominent figure in the Church will preside over the Easter Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Square.

No information has yet been released on how the Urbi et Orbi blessing will be delivered.

This solemn blessing is reserved for the pope and granted only on special occasions – Easter, Christmas, and at the election of a new pope. It is customarily conferred from the loggia – the balcony – of the Vatican Basilica.

Pope Francis, who appeared at the end of the last two Sunday celebrations, may again make an appearance and bless the crowd. On April 6, at the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of the Sick, he blessed the congregation with his hand while Bishop Rino Fisichella also pronounced the blessing.

"The Urbi et Orbi blessing is an act that is linked to the primatial and universal function of the pope and symbolizes it," Monsignor Patrick Valdrini, canonist and canon of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, recently explained to I.MEDIA. "Exceptional circumstances could explain why he would be replaced, but the symbolism of a pope blessing the world would be affected. The blessing would not be lessened."