Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, began the three days leading to Easter with a call on priests and Christians all over the world to emulate the humility of Jesus Christ.
In his homily, Francis reminded them that Jesus went about caring for sinners and outcasts, disregarding the “scorn in the self-righteous” of the critics of his time.
The activities leading to Easter Sunday, the second under COVID-19 restrictions, have been scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pope, who leads the 1.3 billion Roman faithful, said the Mass of the Chrism in a secondary part of St Peter’s Basilica for about 200 people instead of the nearly 10,000 in the past, Reuters said on Friday.
Francis, 84, blessed oils for Church sacraments and led cardinals, bishops and about 75 priests in renewing their vows.
He also delegated a cardinal to lead the second Holy Thursday event in the evening.
As against the Catholic tradition in which the celebrant washes and kisses the feet of 12 people to commemorate Jesus’ gesture of humility towards his apostles, the activity was omitted this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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It was not clear why the pope, who in the past has held the service in prisons or homes for elderly people, had delegated the evening Mass, the news agency said, adding that some had speculated that he wanted to rest ahead of three busier days.
The octogenarian pope suffers from sciatica, which causes pain when it flares up.
He is, however, expected to preside at two services on Good Friday, a day Christians commemorate the crucifixion, and Holy Saturday.
He will also deliver his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city of Rome and to the world) message on Easter Sunday
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