Vatican reaffirms anti-corona rules for Easter

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In the Catholic Church worldwide, the divine services on the Holy Days and Easter days are to be celebrated again this year due to the pandemic, taking into account the Covid-19 situation and any protection requirements in the respective countries. In a note published on Wednesday by the Vatican Congregation for Worship, it reminds the bishops and bishops' conferences of a corresponding decree of March 25, 2020. The universal church guidelines from the first weeks of the pandemic are also valid this year.

Especially in those regions where believers cannot yet return to their own church, the central divine services with the respective bishop should be broadcast via the media. Everywhere the special moments and gestures of liturgical celebrations such as the giving of communion, the greeting of peace and others taking into account the sanitary requirements should take place in the respective country.

Participation of believers

The chrism mass, during which the local bishop usually consecrates the oils for confirmation, ordination and anointing of the sick during Holy Week, can be rescheduled according to the note signed by Cardinal Robert Sarah. The central celebration for the diocese should, if possible, be attended by a noteworthy number of clergy, commissioned lay people and believers.

Finally, the Congregation for Divine Worship suggests offering the faithful suitable aids for family and personal prayer during Lent and Easter as well as for the cartage. At the same time, the congregation thanks all those involved for their pastoral care and their commitment to both the dignity of the celebrations and the health requirements.

Austria's bishops will make arrangements

The bishops will discuss the specific rules for the celebration of the Kartage and the Easter liturgy with a view to the specific pandemic situation in Austria at their next plenary meeting in March.

Schipka said, The document of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship urged the bishops around the world to make decisions with a view to the special situation of their country. According to the Vatican Note, these are to be with consideration of the protection of health and what is prescribed by the authorities responsible for the common good.

Basically on the celebration of church services in the pandemic, the chairman of the bishops conference also commented on Ash Wednesday in an interview with the “Wiener Zeitung. The Archbishop of Salzburg, Franz Lackner, said confidently that Easter will not have to be celebrated again this year in such a restrictive manner as last year.