Vatican City, Apr 3, 2013 / 09:45 am
Pope Francis will be praying or celebrating Mass at all four of Rome's major basilicas between now and Pentecost, as well as holding four public Masses in St. Peter's Square.
The Holy See's press office released on April 3 the places and times the pontiff will be presiding over the seven public Masses that will be held between now and May 19.
After he was elected Pope in 2005, Benedict XVI ordained priests for the Rome diocese and celebrated Mass for Pentecost.
In 2005, Pope Benedict beatified two women, Sisters Marianne Cope and Ascension Nicol Goñi.
But Pope Francis will be going a step further and canonizing three saints, two of whom are Hispanics, even though canonizations typically take place during the month of October.
The future saints include Colombian Sister Laura di Santa Caterina da Siena Montoya y Upegui and Mexican Sister Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala.
Blessed Antonio Primaldo and Companions, from Italy, will also be canonized in the same Mass on May 12. He is known for leading 800 men in refusing to convert to Islam during an invasion of Italy, resulting in their martyrdom.
The new Pope will also preside over Masses or prayers in the four major basilicas of Rome.
On April 7 he will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran at 5:30 p.m. and officially take possession of the Roman cathedral as the Bishop of Rome.
The following Sunday, April 14, he will preside over Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls at the same time of day.
On April 21 he will ordain priests at a 9:30 a.m. Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica, and the next Sunday he will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at a 10:00 a.m. Mass in Saint Peter's Square.
The weekend of May 4–5 will be a busy one, with Pope Francis leading the Rosary in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and then celebrating a Mass for Confraternities in St. Peter's Square at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Pope Francis will finish off his string of public liturgies by celebrating the Vigil of Pentecost on May 18, and Mass the next day for the solemnity itself. Both of the liturgies will take place in St. Peter's Square and will include the participation of the numerous Church movements.