Pope Leo begins four days of Easter events with Chrism Mass

Pope Leo began four days of Holy Week events on Thursday (April 2), celebrating the Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica as Catholics commemorated Jesus establishing the priesthood on the night before his crucifixion.

During the service, Leo blessed ceremonial vessels containing the holy oils that will be used throughout the year for baptisms, confirmations and the anointing of the sick. The pope and the priests also renewed the vows they made on the day of their ordination.

Later on Thursday, Leo will celebrate the Coena Domini Mass at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran, where he will wash the feet of twelve local priests in remembrance of Jesus' gesture of humility towards his apostles.

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the most solemn days of the Christian calendar, culminating on Easter Sunday, when the world's 1.4 billion Catholics celebrate Jesus' resurrection three days after his crucifixion.

Production: Matteo Negri/Reuters