Pope Francis has confirmed his participation in the Easter Vigil service on Saturday night, despite his recent decision to skip the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum due to health concerns. The Vatican's daily bulletin has confirmed that the 87-year-old pontiff will lead the solemn and significant ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica, one of the most important events in the Catholic liturgical calendar.

The Easter Vigil service, scheduled to commence at 7:30 p.m., is expected to last for approximately two hours. This service commemorates the resurrection of Jesus and includes the sacrament of baptism for eight adult converts. Pope Francis, who underwent surgery to remove part of one lung in his youth, has been facing respiratory issues throughout the winter, making it difficult for him to speak for extended periods. Consequently, he has had to cancel some audiences and has relied on aides to read his speeches aloud.

In an unexpected move, Pope Francis decided not to deliver his Palm Sunday homily and chose to stay home rather than preside over the Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum, which re-enacts Christ's crucifixion. The Vatican explained that this decision was made with the intention of preserving the Pope's health, considering his upcoming responsibilities during the vigil service on Saturday and the more demanding obligations on Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday morning, Pope Francis will preside over a Mass held in St. Peter's Square, followed by his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) speech, where he will pray for an end to global crises. Last year, the Pope also skipped the Good Friday procession due to his recovery from bronchitis, which has raised concerns about his sudden absence from the event this year. Although his chair was prepared on the podium and his aides were anticipating his arrival, the announcement came just five minutes before the scheduled start time that he would not be attending.

In addition to his ongoing respiratory problems, Pope Francis underwent surgery to remove a portion of his large intestine in 2021 and was hospitalized twice last year. These hospitalizations were for the removal of intestinal scar tissue resulting from previous surgeries to address diverticulosis, a condition characterized by bulges in the intestinal wall. The Pope has been using a wheelchair or a cane for nearly two years due to issues with his knee ligaments.

In his memoirs titled "Life: My Story Through History," recently published, Pope Francis emphasized that he does not suffer from any health issues that would necessitate his resignation. He further expressed his commitment to various projects that he intends to see through to completion.

As Pope Francis perseveres through health challenges, the faithful continue to pray for his well-being and draw inspiration from his unwavering dedication to his spiritual duties.