The preparation work is enormous. There are the "sanpietrini", workers, craftsmen and artisans belonging to the so-called "Fabbrica di San Pietro". They take care of the maintenance and decoration of the most important basilica in Christianity. One who was assembling a dais said: "We are the only ones who put our hands in here". The floral arrangements on the occasion of Easter are very careful.
The spaces for the internal sacristy in St. Peter's Basilica have been divided and the platforms are being erected where, thanks to the television cameras, hundreds of countries will be able to follow the ceremonies live.
In addition, the workers of Infrastructures and Services of the Governorate of the Vatican City State are organizing everything that needs to be prepared outside the basilica and inside the Bernini Colonnade, which will 'embrace' the 50 thousand faithful who will be there.
The "phoenix palms", famous for the celebration of Palm Sunday, remain in charge of the Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, as well as the "palmureli", another type of palms that arrive from the city of Sanremo, as well as the olive trees that are placed near the huge images of St. Peter and St. Paul at the foot of the staircase.
The gardeners will be in the front row, especially with the thousands of tulips and flowers that Holland has been sending every year since 1985. This work becomes very intense because they start on Good Friday and must finish the decoration of the square and steps before Easter Sunday.
The building services help the gardeners with their cranes and equipment to place the palms on the façade of the basilica designed in 1607 by the architect Carlos Maderno, which, although at first glance it may not seem so, has a height equivalent to that of a 15-story building and a width greater than the length of a soccer field.
The Vatican Television Center is installing the cameras and all the necessary infrastructure in the various locations, including the 'pens' and cameras with the 3D system.
In 2020 and 2021 all ceremonies felt the drama of the pandemic, few people were allowed to participate and only last year was normality returned, albeit already with the pain of the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Holy Week begins with the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square; on Holy Thursday, the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica; on Good Friday, the liturgy of the Passion and Death of the Lord; always on Friday, the Stations of the Cross in the Colosseum. On Saturday, shortly before midnight, the Easter Vigil and the so-called Midnight Mass take place. The week concludes with Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square and the Urbi et Orbi blessing to be given by Pope Francis.
Flowers to San Pedro
To celebrate Easter and express the joy of Christ's resurrection, St. Peter's Square will be transformed into a flower garden. More than 35,000 flowers and plants from Holland will carpet the parvis of the Vatican Basilica. The floral decorations will be created by the workers of the Garden and Environment Service of Government Infrastructures and Services, with the collaboration of floral designer Daniela Canu.
Dutch florists and floristry teachers from Naklo in Slovenia. Together they will work all day on Good Friday to prepare and finish the decoration the next day. World of Spray Roses - Creative and Innovative Inspiration Sprayroses Inspiration Worldwide Rose Alliance will provide about 720 roses delivered to the Service through Flora Holland, in cooperation with Dr. Charles Lansdorp.
Not only on the occasion of the Solemnity of Easter, but throughout Holy Week, St. Peter's Square will be adorned with roses. This will be done by those of the Governorate of Vatican City State, in collaboration with those who have offered plants and flowers.
In particular, for Palm Sunday, April 2, will be distributed olive branches provided by the National Association of Cities of Oil, the mayors of the Region of the Cities of Umbria Oil, coordinated by Dr. Antonio Balenzano, National Director of the Association.
The supply of "phoenix palms" will be provided by the Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. Palms from the city of Sanremo will also be present.
The wholesale floriculture company Flora Olanda The large olive trees will be placed near the statues of Saints Peter and Paul, at the foot of the tabernacle and the obelisk.
