The Vatican announced that a series of cardinals would be standing in for Pope John Paul II in the celebration of Holy Week events.

For the first time in his 26-year pontificate, the pope was not scheduled to preside over Holy Week and Easter celebrations, said a March 8 Vatican press statement.

However, the pope was expected to impart the papal blessing urbi et orbi (to the city of Rome and the world) March 27, Easter, following Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state.

Where the pope would be when he was to offer his Easter blessing “was left purposely vague,” said a Vatican official, since it was still unclear as to what extent the pope would be able to resume activities following his hospitalisation for respiratory problems and a tracheotomy.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said March 7 the Vatican hoped the pope would be back in the Vatican for Holy Week, but he would decide how or if he would participate in the week's many liturgies.

Over the past few years, due to his limited mobility, the pope has forgone performing certain Holy Week rituals, such as washing the feet of priests on Holy Thursday and carrying the cross on Good Friday; instead, he has assigned the task to others.

This time several cardinals have been asked to preside over the Holy Week liturgies and events.

The Vatican press office published the following schedule of services for Holy Week and Easter:

• March 20, Palm Sunday: Mass in St Peter's Square , including the blessing of the palms, presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal vicar for Rome .

• March 24, Holy Thursday: morning celebration of the chrism Mass in St Peter's Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, also in the basilica, presided over by Colombian Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

• March 25, Good Friday: liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St Peter's Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Stafford. Later that night, the Stations of the Cross will take place at Rome 's Colosseum.

• March 26: celebration of the Easter Vigil in St Peter's Basilica, presided over by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals.

• March 27: Easter Mass in St Peter's Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Sodano. At midday , the pope was scheduled to impart his blessing, “ urbi et orbi ”.

(CNS)