Pontiff's Schedule Expected to Be Light, Says Vatican Spokesman

Following his pastoral visit to Naples and before the start of Holy Week, Pope Francis will have a relatively light week, a Vatican spokesman says.

This morning in the Holy See Press Office, its vice-director, Father Ciro Benedettini, informed journalists present that the Pope will be using this week to review the encyclical.

The Pope's week of review, Fr. Ciro pointed out, had been mentioned on the papal flight this January from Sri Lanka to the Philippines.

At that point, Fr. Ciro said, "we learned the Holy Father planned to spend a week in March focusing on the encyclical, but which one had not been said. Now, we know it's this week."

The Holy Father, along with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, headed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, is writing his first encyclical on ecology, marking the second encyclical of his pontificate.

The first was Lumen Fidei, released June 29, 2013.

Father Ciro confirmed that it is expected to be released before the summer.  

Other than Wednesday's General Audience, the Pope is not expected to have other audiences or events.

This morning, Francis had his daily Mass at Santa Marta, and he will preside over Mass at Santa Marta as usual.  However, other than Wednesday, there will not be public activities.

Source: Zenit