Catholics prepare for an unusual Easter, with Pope Francis out of view

10/4/2025 16:27

The Catholic Church starts its busiest week of the year on Sunday with the countdown to Easter, but Pope Francis remains out of public view after surviving double pneumonia and it is unclear whether he will take any part in the celebrations.



Doctors have prescribed the 88-year-old pontiff two months of rest to allow his ageing body to fully heal, meaning he may spend much or all of Holy Week - when Christians recall Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection - out of public view.



"This will certainly be a very different Holy Week for the pope and for the Catholic faithful," said Anna Rowlands, a Catholic academic at England's Durham University.



"The near silence of the pope... could intensify the meaning of parts of the week for many," she said.



The pope would normally preside over at least eight Vatican ceremonies during Holy Week, culminating in Easter Sunday Mass, when tens of thousands of people flock into St. Peter's Square to celebrate the day they believe Jesus rose from the dead.



Vatican officials are still unsure whether Francis, who came close to death in hospital, may try to make brief appearances, or partake in some of the events via a video link.