the city awaits Pope Francis

VENICE – The wait is almost over, tomorrow Pope Francis arrives in Venice. The 10,000 faithful who will attend the mass are ready, all seated, 7,500 in Piazza San Marco and another 2,000 in the small square on the Palazzo Ducale side, including the 1,500 young people who, first, will talk to the pontiff in the field of health. It is good to remember that you can only go to mass if you have a reservation made with the parishes and with the associated personal QrCode. Otherwise you have to stay at home. The celebration will be broadcast live on Rai Uno and Tv2000 (channel 28). The Pope will greet the crowd by passing in the small electric popemobile between the various sectors, then he will go up to the altar. The stage, designed by the Zordan architecture studio and built under the Napoleonic wing, is divided into three sectors: in the center the chair where the sacred icon of the Madonna della Salute will also be exhibited; on the right the tribune with the St. Mark’s chapel and the diocesan choir which will take care of the musical entertainment; on the left the sacristy rooms covered by a panel with the writing on the title of the visit, taken from the Sunday Gospel on the vine and branches: “Remain in the love of Christ”.

THE RITES
Pope Francis, whose health has recently become more fragile, will celebrate the initial rites and after the liturgy of the word he will deliver the homily, probably while sitting. For the Eucharistic part, and therefore for the consecration of the bread and wine, he will hand over the presidency to Patriarch Francesco Moraglia. Cardinal Tolentino de Mendonca, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for culture, and the bishops of the Northeast will concelebrate the mass. The faithful who enter the 13 sectors through each of the 5 gates indicated in the pass will have a booklet available to follow the mass and will receive a holy card in memory of the visit. At the offertory the gifts will be brought to the altar by the Tripodi family, responsible for the Muneghette Solidarity Centre, the director and commander of the Penitentiary Police, a prisoner on leave from the Santa Maria Maggiore men’s prison, some gondoliers. Communion will be distributed by 26 ordinary ministers (priests and deacons) and around eighty extraordinary ministers (lay people in charge) in as many positions identifiable by white umbrellas (red for celiacs). At the end of the mass, Francis will recite the Regina Coeli prayer; then he will pause in prayer before the Madonna della Salute (which tonight will be moved from the basilica to the patriarchal palace, to then be brought to the altar early tomorrow morning); therefore he will go privately to pay homage to the remains of the evangelist Mark inside the cathedral basilica.

THE NUMBERS
The numbers of the day were impressive: 570 authorities; about a hundred disabled people with a companion; 150 volunteers; 500 law enforcement officers; 211 accredited journalists, photographers and cameramen. Four large screens are planned: on stage; the two in the middle of the square close to the new and old Procuratie; and the one in Piazzetta San Marco. The toilets will be available on the banks of the Royal Gardens and behind the Correr museum, while the first aid point will be located at the Procuratie nuova. All participants in the mass are recommended to present themselves at the gates already equipped with a reservation and personal QrCode. Entry, subject to security checks, is permitted starting from 7am and no later than 9am. Piazza San Marco will be closed from midnight this evening to prepare the chairs and everything necessary. Young people heading to Health will be able to access, again only with the pass, from Rio dei Catechumeni from 6.30. For the pope’s arrival, the advertising banner covering the basilica will be replaced by an architectural reproduction.

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