Easter rituals are underway at Vatican
City ahead of the Pope's massive Sunday
Mass today Pope Francis visited with
inmates at a nearby prison and our
co-anchor Nicole Perez is the one and
only South Florida reporter in Vatican
City she joins us live with more
on Holy Week Nicole Denise and Calvin
it's still such a beautiful night here
in Rome people still enjoying the
Basilica which is still lit up right
behind me earlier today the Pope did yes
he did go to a prison and meet with
inmates there to celebrate the Last
Supper and he's been doing this since he
became Pope in 2013 it's a tradition
he's been doing because he wants the
people to know that they can't the once
I can't come to the Vatican or can't see
him at math he's gonna come to them he
also held the chrism mass which he
blessed the three oils used in the
sacrament throughout the year and this
was also the largest group of priests
that resided in Rome they were also part
of the mass and he also had a special
message for them so during the mass with
the oils he blessed the oil of the
catechumens used for those being
baptized to turn away from evil and sin
the oil of the sick used for healing and
consecrated the chrism oil used for
sacraments like Baptism and Confirmation
he did that by breathing over the oil
symbolizing his Holy Spirit coming down
on to it and his message to the priests
who were in attendance renewing their
vows was Grace of closeness Pope Francis
then made his way to the valetti
Correctional Facility where he washed
the feet of 12 prisoners telling the
inmates that in Jesus's time washing the
feet of visitors was the job of slaves
and servants he also met with prison
staff and police and exchanged gifts
with the head of the facility the
Vatican now getting ready for Easter
Sunday the big preps underway and people
coming over to st. Peter's Square to try
to get into the Basilica before it
closes for the holiday Easter preps
under way I've been raised Catholic
since I was a kid so you know I go every
Sunday and that's of course important
holiday the Vatican getting ready to
welcome thousands to st. Peter's Square
for Easter Sunday Italia that the the
best city in the world chairs lined up
and ready the stage set security cameras
all along the balcony this was
guard in place and monitors all over the
square so no matter where you are
everyone gets to see Pope Francis and
the shopping I've just bought too much
my mom's not too happy jewelry
rosaries crosses Pope Francis mementos
everything you need and more
I saw rosary meadows the leader are a
souvenir from the Vatican for the Pope
Alfredo has his spot locked down at the
Vatican he says the square gets so
packed during Easter his family-owned
business thrives what do they like to
buy from you for you the people who buy
the rosary Rosa built
rosary nights and necklace sealed the
rosary for their for the you know for
the girl for the first communion you
probably already know that the Vatican
is its own country it's actually the
smallest country in the world and this
is the border so right now we're in
Italy but you take one step in and this
is the Vatican the square already packed
people from all over the world making
their way to Rome during Holy Week long
lines giving us a glimpse at what we can
expect for Easter Sunday and tomorrow
the church will celebrate the passion of
the Lord and commemorate the crucifixion
of Jesus and we will be here for all of
that junice and Calvin and Nicole we
have a sense something really special
happened just a few moments ago that's
Square
yeah Calvin we were coming over to do
our live shot and on the way we heard
some singing so we walked over and it
was a group a choir group from Maryland
take a listen
[Music]
beautifully they're actually here
they've been here all week for Holy Week
they're gonna be here until Easter
Sunday they'll be at all of the events
tomorrow you guys are gonna hear a lot
more from them tomorrow I'll make sure
of that
we're live in Rome I'm Nicole Perez
local 10 News such a wonderful sight to
see Nicole thank you for your coverage