Pope Francis Not to Preside at June 16 Corpus Christi Mass, Procession Due to Knee Pain

From 2013 to 2017, Pope Francis followed the custom established by Pope John Paul II of marking the Solemnity of Corpus Christi by celebrating a Mass at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and then leading a Eucharistic procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

In 2018, he celebrated the solemnity in Ostia, a district of Rome, and in the following year, he presided at Corpus Christi Mass and procession in Rome’s Casal Bertone neighborhood.

In 2020 and 2021, he marked the solemnity with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, but without a procession due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Corpus Christi, which dates back to the 13th century, traditionally falls on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, but is transfered to the Sunday in many parts of the Catholic world.

The Vatican announced later on June 13 that Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, will celebrate Corpus Christi Mass in the basilica on Thursday, June 16. The Mass will be accompanied by a procession and Benediction.

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The pope is still scheduled to visit Canada on July 24-29.

This report was updated at 07:23 a.m. with information about the Corpus Christi Mass due to be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Gambetti.