He Pope Francis will not officiate some of the rites of Holy Week by Respiratory infection who has forced his hospital admission and will be replaced by cardinals, although his presence is expected at some masses once he is discharged, according to the Italian media this Thursday.

The Holy See for the moment has not confirmed or specified the pontiff’s plans for the pontiff’s Holy Week, after being hospitalized this Wednesday at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where improve and continue treatment scheduled, according to the Vatican.

The Italian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, has confirmed to the Ansa agency that he will be in charge of officiating the Palm Sunday mass, although he has expressed his hope that the pope will be discharged and will be able to preside over it. For his part, the cardinal Giovanni Battista Re He has indicated to the Agi agency that he will stand behind the altar at the Easter Sunday mass, although Francisco is expected to be present at the celebration by then.

The Argentine pontiff, as planned, yes, that same day he will give the traditional blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’ from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican, according to the same sources, is preparing a program to replace Francis in the masses and rites of the most important week of the liturgical calendar.

Other names being considered are that of the cardinal and vicar of Rome, Angelo De Donatis, who will be in charge of the Chrism mass on Holy Thursday, which opens the so-called Pascual Triduum. It remains to be seen if he will attend the celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, or the same day the Via Crucis in the Roman Coliseum, or who will officiate the long and solemn mass of the Easter Vigil on Saturday.

Francisco, 86, has been hospitalized since Wednesday for a respiratory infection but his health “progressively improves”, as indicated this Thursday by his spokesman, Matteo Bruni. It is expected that he will still spend a few days in the hospital, but it is possible that the doctors will recommend absolute rest at his residence, Casa Santa Marta, after being discharged.