Pope Francis moves Corpus Christi procession to Sunday

Pope Francis is to celebrate Corpus Christi on Sunday rather than Thursday next month.

Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, said the Pope had decided to postpone the celebration next month from June 15 to June 18.

He said a Sunday procession would be easier for people to attend and would also cause less inconvenience in Rome.

Pope Francis made the decision, he said, “in favour of a better participation of the People of God, of priests and of the faithful of the Church in Rome." He added: “There is a second reason: Thursday is a weekday and so there will be less inconvenience in Rome.”