The relics of Saints Pio of Pietrelcina, often known as Padre Pio, and Leopold Mandic have arrived in Rome.
The urns containing the relics of these two saints who exemplified mercy, which arrived about 3 p.m. Rome time yesterday, are in the Eternal City as part of the Jubilee Year of Mercy’s festivities and will remain here until Feb. 11th.
The Holy Father himself requested that the relics of the saints be brought to Rome to help inspire the Missionaries of Mercy who were selected this Jubilee year.
These missionaries are a select number of priests who have received from the Pontiff the charge to be privileged witnesses in their respective Churches of the extraordinariness of this Jubilee event.
This Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis will concelebrate Mass with more than 1,000 Missionaries of Mercy and will give them their mandate for the Holy Year Year, «including faculties to absolve even those sins normally reserved to the Holy See.»
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15:00: Liturgy welcoming the relics of Saint Pio and Saint Leopoldo, presided by Fr. Gianfranco Palmisani, Provincial Minister of the Friars Minor Cappuchin of the Province of Rome
18:00: Celebration of the Eucharist presided by S. Em. Card. Agostino Vallini, Vicar General of Rome
20:30: Prayer Vigil presided by Fr. Mauro Jöhri, Minister General of the Friars Minor Cappuchin
4 February
Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls (San Lorenzo fuori le Mura)
7:30: Celebration of the Eucharist
11:30: Celebration of the Eucharist
18:00: Celebration of the Eucharist
20:30: Interobbediential Penitential Liturgy presided by S.E.R. Mons. Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
Jubilee Church San Salvatore in Lauro
22:00: Celebration of the Eucharist presided by S.E.R. Mons. Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization
Followed by: nighttime prayer vigil
5 February
Jubilee Church San Salvatore in Lauro
14:00: Celebration of the Eucharist presided by S.E. Mons. Michele Castoro, Archbishop of Manfredonia, Vieste, San Giovanni Rotondo
16:00: Procession with the relics of the two saints to Saint Peter’s Basilica
Reception of the relics by S. Em. Card. Angelo Comastri, Archpriest of Saint Peter’s Basilica
6 February
Saint Peter’s Square
10:00: Jubilee Audience with the Holy Father for Padre Pio prayer groups
14:00: Exposition of the relics for veneration by the faithful in Saint Peter’s Basilica
7 – 8 – 9 February
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Exposition of the relics for veneration by the faithful
10 February
Saint Peter’s Basilica
17:00: Solemn Eucharistic Celebration of Ash Wednesday with Pope Francis, and the commissioning of the Missionaries of Mercy
11 February
Saint Peter’s Basilica
7:30: Celebration of the Eucharist
presided by S.E.R. Rino Fisichella
Departure of the relics of the two saints
