During Holy Week the Church celebrates the mysteries of our salvation: the redemption of the human race and the perfect glorification of God accomplished by Christ, especially in the last days of his life, in the Paschal Mystery. Dying, he destroyed our death; rising, he restored our life.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday “of the Lord’s Passion”, includes the weekdays from Monday to Thursday, and culminates in the Paschal Triduum.
 

15th World Youth Day
Theme: “The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us” (Jn 1:14).
Saint Peter’s Square: 10:00 a.m.

Palm Sunday “of the Lord’s Passion” unites Christ’s royal triumph and the proclamation of his Passion.

The Holy Father will bless the palm and olive branches and, following the procession, will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Passion.

The Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops  who wish to take par in the procession are asked to be present at 9:30 a.m. in the Braccio di Costantino, attired in choir dress.
 

CHRISM MASS
Vatican Basilica: 9:30 a.m.

The Holy Father will preside at the concelebrated Chrism Mass with the Cardinals, Bishops and Priests (Diocesan and Religious) present in Rome, as a sign of the close communion which unites the Pastor of the Universal Church and his brothers in the ministerial Priesthood.

PASCHAL TRIDUUM

The Paschal Triduum of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, “the high-point of the whole liturgical year”, begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, culminates in the Easter Vigil and concludes with Vespers of Easter Sunday. 
 

MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Cappella Papale
Vatican Basilica: 5:30 p.m.

At the evening Mass of Holy Thursday, the Church recalls the Last Supper, when the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, having loved his own in the world to the end, offered his Body and Blood to God the Father under the appearances of bread and wine, gave these gifts to the Apostles as food, and commanded them and their successors in the priesthood to offer them in sacrifice.

The Holy Father will preside at the concelebrated Mass and will wash the feet of twelve Priests. During the rite, all present will be invited to make a charitable offering towards the relief of victims of the flooding in Mozambique. The monies collected will be given to the Holy Father at the presentation of the gifts.

At the conclusion of the celebration the Blessed Sacrament will be brought in procession to the Chapel of Reposition.

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Cardinals, Bishops and Priests wishing to concelebrate are asked to notify the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

All should be present in the Basilica at 5:00 p.m. to take their assigned places.
 

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION

Cappella Papale
Vatican Basilica: 5:00 p.m.

On this day, when “Christ our Pasch is sacrificed”, the Church — by meditating on the Passion of her Lord and Spouse and by venerating the Cross — recalls her origin in the pierced side of Christ and intercedes for the salvation of the whole world.

The Holy Father will preside at the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross and the Rite of Communion.

The Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops, without ring, will vest in their respective choir dress, with rochet and mozzetta; by 4:30 p.m. they should visit the Chapel of Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament for a brief period of adoration and then take their assigned places near the Altar of the Confession.

Abbots and Religous vest in their proper choir dress. Prelates and Chaplains of His Holiness wear the surplice over their proper attire.

WAY OF THE CROSS
Colosseum: 9:15 p.m.

The Holy Father will preside at the traditional devotion of the “Way of the Cross”. At its conclusion he will address the faithful and impart the Apostolic Blessing.
 

Following an ancient tradition, Easter night is spent “in honour of the Lord”, and its Vigil celebration, which commemorates the holy night when Christ rose from the dead, is considered “the mother of all vigils”. During this night the Church quietly awaits the Lord’s Resurrection and celebrates it by the Sacraments of Christian Initiation.

Easter Sunday begins the “joyful season” of Pentecost, the fifty days of Easter, in which the Church celebrates the presence of the Risen Lord and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

EASTER VIGIL

Cappella Papale
Saint Peter’s Square: 8:00 p.m.

The Holy Father will bless the fire. After the entrance procession with the Paschal Candle and the singing of the Exsultet, he will preside at the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of Baptism and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which will be concelebrated with the Cardinals. The latter are asked to be present by 7:30 p.m. in the “Braccio di Costantino”.

The Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and members of the Cappella Papale, vested in their respective choir dress, are asked to gather at 7:30 p.m. in Saint Peter’s Square.

MASS OF EASTER DAY
Saint Peter’s Square: 10:30 a.m.

The Holy Father will celebrate Mass in Saint Peter’s Square and impart his Blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.

Vatican City, 31 March 2000

By mandate of the Holy Father

† Piero Marini
Titular Bishop of Martirano
Master of the Liturgical Celebrations
of the Supreme Pontiff