Pope Francis wants Holy Thursday Mass to be 'simple and intimate'

Pope Francis

The Mass of the Lord's Supper that Pope Francis will celebrate on Holy Thursday in the chapel of the Casal del Marmo Penitential Institute for Minors (IPM) will be, by his express desire, very simple.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, SJ said the Concelebrants will be Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, and Fr Gaetano Greco, chaplain of the Institute.

Around 10 girls and 40 boys will take part in the Mass. The Pope will wash the feet of 12 of them, who will be chosen from different nationalities and religions. The youth will also say the readings and the prayers of the faithful.

After the Mass, the Pope will meet with the young people and the prison staff in the Institute's gym. Around 150 persons are expected to attend, including the Minister for Justice, Paola Severino, accompanied by the Head of the Department of Justice for Minors, Caterina Chinnici, the Commander of the Institute's Penitentiary Police, Saulo Patrizi, and the Institute's director, Liana Giambartolomei.

The young people will give Pope Francis a wooden crucifix and kneeler, which they made themselves in the Institute's workshop. The Holy Father will bring Easter eggs and “colomba” (the traditional Italian Easter cake in the shape of a dove) for everyone. Given the private nature of the pastoral visit, journalists will be restricted to the area outside the building and no live coverage will be transmitted.

Source: VIS