Pope skips homily at start of busy Holy Week during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square
ROME — Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St.
ROME — Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, avoiding a strenuous speech at the start of a busy Holy Week that will test his increasingly frail health.
Hobbled by bad knees and persistent respiratory problems, Francis also didn’t participate in the procession of cardinals around the obelisk in the piazza at the start of the Mass. Instead, the 87-year-old pontiff blessed the palm fronds and olive branches carried by the faithful from the altar.
Francis had been expected to deliver a homily halfway through the service and had pronounced the prayers during the Mass. But after several seconds of silence, announcers said Francis had decided not to deliver the homily itself.
Pope Francis presides over the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on March 24.ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP - Getty ImagesVatican officials estimated some 25,000 people attended the Mass, held under a sunny, breezy spring sky.
Palm Sunday kicks off a busy week for Francis leading up to Easter Sunday when the faithful commemorate the resurrection of Christ. On Thursday, Francis is due to travel to a Rome women’s prison for the traditional washing of the feet ritual. On Friday he is scheduled to preside over the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome’s Colosseum re-enacting Christ’s crucifixion.
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