VATICAN CITY, FEB. 24, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Despite his delicate health, John Paul II has a full agenda for the next two months.
The Vatican press office today published the calendar of activities, up to April 25, at which the Pope will preside, including two beatification ceremonies.
The program confirms that the Holy Father plans to preside over all the Holy Week celebrations in Rome, including the Way of the Cross on Good Friday at the Colosseum.
The events of the most important week of the Christian year will begin on Palm Sunday with the celebration of the 19th World Youth Day, in St. Peter’s Square. They will conclude on Easter Sunday with Mass and the blessing «urbi et orbi» (to the city of Rome and the world).
In the coming weeks the Pope will meet with parish communities of the Diocese of Rome, as their bishop, in Paul VI Hall. Visits to the parishes were canceled in recent months to spare him fatigue.
On Saturday, March 13, the Holy Father will pray the rosary with university students. He will make his Spiritual Exercises from Feb. 29 to March 6.
Here is the translation of the Vatican Information Service of the calendar of activities.
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Today the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published the calendar of celebrations that are scheduled to be presided over by the Holy Father in February, March and April:
February
— Wednesday, 25. In St. Peter’s Basilica at 10:30 a.m., Celebration of the Word, blessing and distribution of ashes.
— Saturday, 28. Mass at 6 p.m. in Paul VI Hall with the following Roman parishes: St. Anselm, St. Mary, Star of Evangelization, St. Charles Borromeo, St. John the Baptist de la Salle.
— Sunday, 29: First Sunday in Lent. Beginning of Spiritual Exercises for the Roman Curia in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace at 6 p.m.
March
— Saturday, 6. Conclusion of Spiritual Exercises in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel at 9 a.m. At 6 p.m. in Paul VI Hall, Mass with the following Roman parishes: St. Bridget, St. Hilary, St. Maximus.
— Saturday, 13. At 6:30 p.m. in Paul VI Hall, rosary with university students.
— Saturday, 20. In Paul VI Hall at 6 p.m., Mass with the following Roman parishes: St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Patrick, St. Mary Mediatrix and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
— Sunday, 21: Fourth Sunday in Lent. At 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, beatification of Servants of God Luigi Talamoni, Matilde del Sagrado Corazon Tellez Robles, Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz Real, Maria Candida dell’Eucaristia.
— Saturday, 27. At 6 p.m. in Paul VI Hall, Mass with the following Roman parishes: St. John of the Cross, St. Felicity and Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria.
April
— Sunday, 4: Palm Sunday, 19th World Youth Day in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. Blessing of palms, procession and Mass.
— Thursday, 8: Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 a.m. At 5:30 p.m., also in the basilica, the beginning of the Easter triduum, with the Mass of the Last Supper.
— Friday, 9: Good Friday. In St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m., Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. At 9:15 p.m. in the Colosseum, the Way of the Cross.
— Saturday, 10: Holy Saturday. In St. Peter’s Basilica at 7 p.m., Easter Vigil.
— Sunday, 11: Easter Sunday. In St. Peter’s Square at 10:30 a.m., Mass and blessing «urbi et orbi.»
— Sunday, 25: Third Sunday of Easter. In St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., beatification of Servants of God Augusto Czartoryski, Laura Montoya, Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, Julia Nemesia Valle, Eusebia Palomino Yenes and Alexandrina Maria da Costa.
