The Vatican publishes the Holy Week calendar without confirming the presence of Pope Francis

The Vatican published on Thursday the next acts of the calendar, which include the rites of Holy Week, but without specifying who will celebrate them, since everything indicates that Pope Francis will still be convalescent after being discharged last Sunday after 38 days hospitalized by a serious respiratory infection.

The Holy See press office reported that «we will have to see how the Pope’s health improves in the coming weeks to assess his possible presence, and in what terms, in Holy Week rites.»

Vatican Fuentes explained that there was nothing organized for Holy Week, but study a ‘B’ plan to replace Francisco, perhaps with several cardinals in each rite, in one of the most important periods for the Catholic Church, while Francisco could participate in specific moments.

Francisco, 88, was discharged after his hospitalization in the Gemelli by a respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia although he will remain in convalescence «at least two months» following the treatment and performing respiratory and motor physiotherapy in his apartment on the second floor of the Santa Marta house.

The Vatican confirmed all the April events that will begin with Ramos Sunday, on the 13th at 10 am in the Plaza de San Pedro

While the Vatican Holy Week- from April 17 to 21- will begin with Holy Thursday, with two masses, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, while on Good Friday there will be two other celebrations, including the via Crucis in the Colosseum in the afternoon, and the vigil on Holy Saturday.

It also confirms the Easter Mass of Easter Sunday, which culminates with the Urbi et Orbi blessing.

According to the alternative plan that some media have published, some cardinals have been identified to celebrate the rites in the name of the Pope, as was done in 2005, in the last period of the life of John Paul II, when already very sick by Parkinson, the task was entrusted to its closest collaborators. Karol Wojtyla appeared only resurrection Sunday from the window of his study, but without being able to speak.

The calendar also includes the canonization of young Carlos Acutis on April 27, which expected the participation of tens of thousands of people. EFE