JOHN PAUL II'S SCHEDULE FOR HOLY WEEK

VATICAN CITY, APR 3, 2001 (VIS) - Following is the schedule of Holy Week activities presided by John Paul II which was released today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff:

SUNDAY, April 8: Palm Sunday and Our Lord's Passion. 16th World Youth Day on the theme: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." At 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father will bless palms and olive branches and, at the end of the procession, will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Passion.

THURSDAY, April 12: Holy Thursday. Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at 9:30 a.m. presided by John Paul II. The Easter Triduum of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection begins with the Mass of Our Lord's Last Supper in St. John Lateran Basilica at 5:30 p.m. The Holy Father will preside at the concelebration of the Mass and will wash the feet of twelve priests. During the rite, those present will be invited to contribute to a collection for the victims of the earthquake in El Salvador. The sum collected will be given to the Holy Father at the presentation of the gifts. At the end of the celebration the Blessed Eucharist will be transferred to the chapel of reposition.
FRIDAY, April 13: Good Friday. The Holy Father will preside at the Liturgy of the Word, the Adoration of the Cross and the Communion Rite for the celebration of Our Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica at 5:00 p.m. He will lead the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum at 9:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, April 14: The Easter Vigil will begin at 8:00 p.m. in St. Peter's Basilica, when the Pope will bless the new fire in the atrium of the church. After the entrance procession with the Easter candle and the singing of the Exsultet, he will preside at the Liturgy of the Word and the baptismal and eucharistic liturgies, which he will concelebrate with the cardinals.

SUNDAY, April 15: Easter Sunday. At 10:30 a.m., John Paul II will preside at Mass in St. Peter's Square, after which he will impart the "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") blessing from the basilica's central loggia.

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