Pope's public schedule for first days of pontificate

March 14, 2013

The Vatican press office has released a schedule of public events for the newly elected Pope:

• A Mass on Thursday afternoon, March 14, in the Sistine Chapel, with the cardinals who had taken part in the conclave.
• A meeting with all cardinals (including those over 80) on Friday morning in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican. Pope Francis was expected to greet each cardinal personally; it was not clear whether the new Pope would deliver a prepared address or speak extemporaneously to the group.
• An audience on Saturday morning with journalists, including the hundreds who had gathered in Rome for the conclave.
• His first Angelus audience on Sunday, March 17. The Pope is expected to address the crowd in St. Peter’s Square from the window of the papal apartments in the apostolic palace. Those apartments are currently being remodeled, and the newly elected Pope will live in a suite of rooms in the Domus Sanctae Marthae until they are ready for him. But Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, said that the renovations are nearly done and the rooms will be ready soon.
• The formal installation of the new Pope will take place on Tuesday, March 19: the feast of St. Joseph, in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican has announced that the Mass will be open to the public.
• On March 20, Pope Francis will hold an audience for “fraternal delegates” from the Eastern Catholic churches. This special event will pre-empt the public audience that ordinarily scheduled for each Wednesday.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Pope Francis’ First Activities (VIS)