Vatican, Rome – Pope Leo Easter rites begin on Holy Thursday in Rome, with Pope Leo XIV presiding over the first major liturgy leading to Easter Sunday, setting a defining tone for his papacy and offering an early glimpse into his leadership of the Catholic Church.
For the first time, the pontiff is leading the solemn Holy Week observances following the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis, in April last year at the age of 88. The moment is both symbolic and consequential, as global attention turns to how Pope Leo intends to balance continuity with a measured return to tradition.
At the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran — the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome — the Pope Leo Easter rites will feature the traditional washing of the feet of 12 priests, a ritual rooted in humility and service. The act re-enacts the gesture of Jesus Christ during the Last Supper, when he washed the feet of his disciples to emphasise leadership through sacrifice and charity.
In a clear departure from recent practice, the ceremony is being held within the Church’s principal cathedral rather than in outreach settings such as prisons, where Pope Francis often conducted the rite among inmates. The decision signals a restoration of more formal liturgical traditions while retaining the spiritual message at the heart of the observance.
Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his 12 apostles — the foundation of the Eucharist, a central pillar of Christian worship observed by millions worldwide. The reenactment of the foot-washing continues to serve as a powerful reminder of humility, service, and the moral obligations of leadership.
The Pope Leo Easter rites will continue on Good Friday, when the pontiff is expected to personally carry a large cross during the Stations of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum, a solemn public reflection on the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The Stations trace the final stages of Jesus’ journey from condemnation to death, forming one of the most significant observances in the Christian calendar.
The week’s events will culminate on Easter Sunday with the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing — “to the city and the world” — delivered before tens of thousands of faithful gathered at St Peter’s Square and millions more watching globally. Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of Christian belief and the high point of the liturgical year.
As the Pope Leo Easter rites unfold, they are shaping early perceptions of a papacy that appears intent on reinforcing tradition while navigating the expectations of a global and diverse Catholic community.
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