Image by CatholicVote.org
CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis surprised attendees at the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square by suspending the delivery of his already prepared homily, without explanation from the Vatican.
The Palm Sunday Mass, marking the commencement of Holy Week 2024 for the Latin Church, started at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, March 24 at 10:00 AM (Rome time) as scheduled, drawing an estimated 25,000 faithful, according to the Vatican Gendarmerie.
As is customary, the Vatican Press Office provided journalists with the text of the pope’s scheduled homily under embargo until its delivery. However, shortly after 1:20 PM (Rome time), the Vatican Press Office announced, “since it has not been delivered, the homily does not exist,” as reported by the Catholic agency ACI Prensa. No further explanation was provided by Vatican officials.
Francis, who has been battling a month-long cold that has at times forced him to cancel scheduled events, opted to forego his homily. Despite previous instances where Vatican officials delivered his remarks to alleviate strain on his breathing, the pope chose to maintain silence during this pivotal moment, which marks the beginning of the most physically demanding week for priests in the Catholic calendar.
The official Vatican bulletin, released around 2:00 PM (Rome time), stated: “At the end of the proclamation of ‘The Passion of the Lord,’ there was a moment of silence and prayer before resuming the celebration.”
Father Thomas Petri OP, President of the Pontifical Dominican House of Studies, explained late on Sunday that the pope’s decision to skip the homily is “not news.”
“The Church requires a homily delivered at every Sunday Mass except on Palm Sunday, when it’s optional. There have been a few Palm Sundays during his Pontificate when Pope Francis has opted not to give a homily,” Fr. Petri wrote on X.