Pope Francis to Lead Easter Vigil Amidst Good Friday Absence
SolarEclipse2024
The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis would preside over the Easter Vigil service on Saturday night
after he decided at the last minute to skip his participation in the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum as a health precaution.
The Vatican's daily bulletin confirmed Francis would lead the lengthy vigil in St. Peter's Basilica
The service, which is due to begin at 7:30 p.m. local time and usually lasts two hours
The 87-year-old Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling respiratory
The Vatican said in a brief explanation that the decision was made to "conserve his health" in view of the vigil service on Saturday and his even more taxing obligations on Easter Sunday.
The pope is due to preside over a morning Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square and deliver his Urbi et Orbi speech praying for an end to global crises.
While Francis also skipped the chilly Good Friday procession last year because he was recovering from bronchitis
In addition to his respiratory problems, Francis had a chunk of his large intestine removed in 2021 and was hospitalized twice last year