The Vatican unveiled its official Holy Week schedule on Thursday, March 27, 2025, outlining liturgical celebrations from April 13, Palm Sunday, to April 27, the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Released by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, the calendar spans the key rites of the Paschal Triduum and peaks with the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis during the Jubilee of Adolescents, set to draw over 50,000 young pilgrims to St. Peter’s Square. Events will unfold across iconic sites like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum, though Pope Francis’ participation hinges on his health, to be assessed in the coming weeks, according to the Holy See Press Office. This announcement underscores Holy Week’s centrality in the Christian calendar, attracting millions to Rome annually—1.2 million visitors flocked there in 2024 for Easter festivities alone—while blending tradition with a historic moment as Acutis becomes the first millennial saint.
Kicking off at 10 a.m. Italian time (5 a.m. Brasília time) on April 13, the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square will commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, setting the stage for a week of profound rituals. The schedule includes the Chrism Mass, the Passion of the Lord, and the iconic Way of the Cross near the Colosseum, which drew over 20,000 pilgrims in 2024 despite rain. The Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass, followed by the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, anchor the Triduum, while Acutis’ canonization on April 27—a 15-year-old Italian who died in 2006—marks a milestone, celebrating his tech-savvy evangelization. His sainthood, confirmed after a second miracle in 2024, resonates with the Jubilee’s focus on youth.
Pope Francis’ involvement remains uncertain at 88, following respiratory challenges in early 2025 that prompted canceled engagements. The Vatican noted on March 27 that his presence will depend on his condition, yet the grandeur of the celebrations persists. With Acutis’ canonization and the Jubilee of Adolescents, the Holy Week of 2025 promises to unite faith and modernity, projecting a global reach with the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing broadcast to 150 million viewers in 2024.
Palm Sunday opens the festivities
Holy Week in the Vatican begins on April 13 with the Palm Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. Italian time in St. Peter’s Square. This liturgy, recalling Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, drew 60,000 faithful in 2024. If his health permits, Pope Francis will bless olive branches and palms, distributing them to pilgrims amid hymns and the Passion reading.
The event sets a dual tone of joy and solemnity, launching the week’s journey. In 2023, attendees from over 80 countries filled the square, highlighting its universal appeal and spiritual weight.
Into the Paschal Triduum
The Paschal Triduum, the heart of Holy Week, starts on April 17 with the Chrism Mass at 9:30 a.m. Italian time in St. Peter’s Basilica. This rite, consecrating sacred oils for the year’s sacraments, unites bishops and priests, with over 1,500 clergy attending in 2024—a figure likely to hold in 2025.
- Key Triduum rites:
- Chrism Mass: April 17, 9:30 a.m. Italian time.
- Passion of the Lord: April 18, 5 p.m. Italian time.
- Easter Vigil: April 19, 7:30 p.m. Italian time.
Good Friday and the Way of the Cross
On Good Friday, April 18, St. Peter’s Basilica hosts the Passion of the Lord at 5 p.m. Italian time, a silent liturgy focused on Christ’s crucifixion that drew 10,000 faithful in 2024. Later, at 9:15 p.m. Italian time, the Way of the Cross unfolds near the Colosseum’s arches, featuring 14 stations tracing Jesus’ journey to the cross.
This outdoor event is a Holy Week pinnacle. In 2024, over 20,000 pilgrims braved rain to follow meditations penned by abuse victims, a poignant touch. The Pope’s attendance at the Colosseum depends on his health, but the tradition remains a global draw.
Easter’s peak in the Vatican
The Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. Italian time in St. Peter’s Basilica ushers in the Resurrection with the blessing of new fire and the “Exsultet” chant, hosting over 8,000 attendees in 2024. On April 20, the Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. Italian time in St. Peter’s Square, followed by the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, reaches a worldwide audience of 150 million, as seen in 2024.
St. Peter’s Square, adorned with 35,000 Dutch flower bulbs in 2024, becomes a vibrant celebration hub. The “Urbi et Orbi,” delivered from the basilica’s central balcony, offers peace messages in over 60 languages, connecting the Pope with global faithful.
Carlo Acutis’ canonization: a historic moment
On April 27, at 10:30 a.m. Italian time, St. Peter’s Square will host Carlo Acutis’ canonization, a young Italian who died of leukemia in 2006 and used technology to spread faith. Tied to the Jubilee of Adolescents, the event expects over 50,000 young pilgrims. Acutis, beatified in 2020 after a Brazilian miracle, earns sainthood with a second miracle—a 2024 healing in Florence—making him the first digital-era saint.
His relics have drawn over 1 million visitors to Assisi since 2020, reflecting his global impact. The ceremony underscores the Church’s outreach to youth during the Jubilee 2025.
Pope’s health under watch
Pope Francis’ role in Holy Week remains uncertain. Turning 89 in December 2025, he faced respiratory issues in 2025, including mild pneumonia in January, prompting event cancellations. On March 27, the Holy See Press Office stated his participation will hinge on his recovery, with updates expected closer to April.
In 2024, he led most Holy Week rites but delegated the Way of the Cross to Cardinal Angelo De Donatis due to weather. If unable to attend, he may follow from Santa Marta, as in past health setbacks.
Blending tradition with the Jubilee
The Jubilee of Adolescents, part of the 2025 Jubilee, ties Acutis’ canonization to Holy Week, merging tradition with youth engagement. A 2024 pilot event drew 30,000 teens to Rome, and 2025 projections exceed 50,000, with pilgrimages from 80 dioceses. Vigils and catechesis on April 26-27 will center on St. Peter’s Square.
Acutis’ digital legacy—building saint-focused websites—makes him a modern icon, with his tomb in Assisi logging over 1 million visits since 2020, amplifying his appeal to young Catholics.
Full Holy Week schedule
The Vatican’s Holy Week follows a precise timeline:
- April 13: Palm Sunday Mass, 10 a.m. Italian time.
- April 17: Chrism Mass, 9:30 a.m. Italian time.
- April 18: Passion of the Lord, 5 p.m.; Way of the Cross, 9:15 p.m. Italian time.
- April 19: Easter Vigil, 7:30 p.m. Italian time.
- April 20: Easter Mass and “Urbi et Orbi,” 10:30 a.m. Italian time.
- April 27: Carlo Acutis’ canonization, 10:30 a.m. Italian time.
Rome’s grand celebrations
Holy Week in the Vatican draws global crowds. In 2024, 1.2 million visitors flooded Rome, with the Way of the Cross and Easter Mass as highlights. The square’s 35,000 tulips and the “Urbi et Orbi” broadcast to 150 million amplify its reach. The 2025 addition of Acutis’ canonization and the Jubilee could push numbers higher, with Rome’s hotels at 80% capacity by March, per local tourism data.
A global faith event
The Vatican’s 2025 Holy Week weaves tradition, renewal, and outreach. From Palm Sunday to Acutis’ sainthood, the rites celebrate the Resurrection and youth. With St. Peter’s Square and the Colosseum as backdrops, and millions tuning in, the schedule reflects Christianity’s universal call, navigating the Pope’s health challenges and the aspirations of a new generation.
