VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Pope Francis will celebrate a special liturgy in April with Armenian Catholics, who are marking the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the Vatican announced.
Publishing the list of papal liturgies for February, March and April, the Vatican did not mention where the pope would celebrate the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper April 2, Holy Thursday.
The Vatican press office said Jan. 27 that the pope would decide later where to celebrate the Mass, which includes the washing of feet. The first year of his pontificate, Pope Francis celebrated the Mass at a juvenile detention facility; last year he presided over the Mass at a rehabilitation center.
The other appointments on the pope's calendar, released Jan. 27, include:
- Feb. 2 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with religious for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
- Feb. 8 evening Mass at the parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Rome's Pietralata neighborhood.
- Feb. 14 consistory for the creation of new cardinals.
- Feb. 15 Mass with the new cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica.
- Feb. 18 Ash Wednesday procession from Rome's Basilica of St. Anselm to the Basilica of Santa Sabina for Mass and the imposition of ashes.
- Feb. 22-27 Lenten retreat with members of the Roman Curia in Ariccia outside Rome.
- March 8 evening Mass at Most Holy Redeemer parish in Rome's Tor Bella Monaca neighborhood.
- March 13 penitential prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica.
- March 21 pastoral visit to Pompei and Naples.
- March 29 Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square.
- April 2 morning celebration of the chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
- April 3 afternoon Liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica; nighttime celebration of the Way of the Cross in Rome's Colosseum.
- April 4 nighttime celebration of the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica.
- April 5 celebration of Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square followed by the pope's blessing "urbi et orbi" (the city and the world).
- April 12 Mass for Armenian-rite faithful in St. Peter's Basilica.
