Vatican City, 3 May 2016 – Priests will celebrate their jubilee on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 June, solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On 2 June Pope Francis will prepare the meditations for the spiritual retreat, which will begin at 9.30 a.m. and conclude at 5.30 p.m.

The Holy Father will read the three meditations in the Basilicas of St. Paul, St. Peter and St. John, passing between them. By a video conference connection the priests present in the three basilicas will be able to follow the meditations for the entire day. The priests of Rome will gather in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which will be closed to other visitors on the day.

On Friday 3 June at 9.30 a.m. Pope Francis will preside at Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square, to be attended by all the participants in this Jubilee.

According to a communiqué from the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, on 16 June the diocese of Rome will hold its diocesan pastoral congress in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, dedicated to the study and pastoral decisions of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. The Holy Father will give the opening address.