Archbishop Caccia, Pope's Nuncio to the United States, and Holy Week in Rome

The Holy Father Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Titular Archbishop of Sepino, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, replacing Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who has just turned 80. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia was until now Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York. 

With this appointment, Monsignor Gabriele Giordano Caccia will assume the diplomatic representation of the Pope to the government of the United States and the Church in that country, after several years of service in the Holy See's mission to the UN, as reported in the Bulletin of the Holy See Press Office.

Former Nuncio to Lebanon, Philippines, and Observer to the UN.

Born in Milan Monsignor Caccia, born February 24, 1958, was ordained a priest on June 11, 1983 by Cardinal Martini in the Archdiocese of Milan. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on July 1, 1991, working initially in the pontifical representation in Tanzania and later in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, where in 2002 he was appointed Advisor. 

In 2009, Monsignor Caccia was appointed apostolic nuncio to Lebanon and titular archbishop of Sepino, receiving episcopal ordination from Pope Benedict XVI. In 2017 he was appointed apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, and in 2019 he became Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.

Holy Week Celebrations

On the other hand, the Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has released the calendar of the Holy Week celebrations that will be presided over by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The celebrations will begin on Palm Sunday, March 29, with the Commemoration of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem and Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10:00 am.

On Holy Thursday, April 2, the Holy Father will preside at the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at 9:30 a.m., while in the afternoon, the Mass of the Lord's Supper will take place in the Basilica of St. John Lateran at 5:30 p.m.

On Good Friday, April 3, the Pope will preside at the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at 5:00 pm. That same day, in the evening, the traditional Stations of the Cross will take place at the Colosseum in Rome at 9:15 p.m.

On Holy Saturday, April 4, the Pontiff will celebrate the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Night at 9:00 pm.

Resurrection Sunday, April 5, with Urbi et Orbi Blessing

Finally, on Easter Sunday, April 5, the Pope will preside the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at 10:15 a.m., after which he will impart from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, at 12:00 noon, the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing to the city of Rome and to the world.