The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will preside over the Easter Vigil service on Saturday night. This comes after the Pope decided to skip the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum due to health concerns. The Easter Vigil service, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, will take place in St. Peter’s Basilica and is set to begin at 7:30 p.m., typically lasting for two hours.
Pope Francis, who is 87 years old, has been dealing with respiratory problems throughout the winter, making it difficult for him to speak at length. This has led to the cancellation of some audiences and having an aide read his speeches. Due to health concerns, he opted not to preside over the Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday this year. However, he still plans to fulfill his other Easter obligations, including presiding over a morning Mass in St. Peter’s Square and delivering his Urbi et Orbi speech.
Last year, Pope Francis also missed the Good Friday procession due to bronchitis, but his absence this year raised additional concerns about his health issues, including respiratory problems and intestinal surgery in 2021. He has been using a wheelchair or cane due to knee ligament problems for nearly two years. In his memoirs, Pope Francis expressed that he does not suffer from any health conditions that would require him to resign and that he still has many projects he wishes to bring to fruition as leader of the Catholic Church.
