Pope Francis called on priests to be humble like Jesus as he kicked off three busy days leading to Easter – all scaled down because of the COVID-19 pandemic – with a Holy Thursday Mass.

Holy Thursday is the day Christians commemorate the day Jesus instituted the priesthood.

Pope Francis, leader of the 1.3 billion Roman Catholic Church, said the Mass of the Chrism in a secondary part of St. Peter’s Basilica for almost 200 people instead of the nearly 10,000 in the past.

It is the second consecutive Easter season under coronavirus restrictions. The Vatican follows guidelines from Italy, which has seen a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Francis blessed oils for Church sacraments and led cardinals, bishops and nearly 75 priests in renewing their vows.

In his homily, the 84-year-old pope asked priests to be humble, reminding them that Jesus went about caring for sinners and outcasts disregarding the “scorn in the self-righteous” of the critics of his times.

Francis has delegated a cardinal to lead the second Holy Thursday event in the evening.

Traditionally on this occasion the celebrant washes and kisses the feet of 12 people to commemorate Jesus’ gesture of humility towards his apostles, but this year COVID-19 restrictions have removed that part of the ritual.

It was not clear why the pope, who in the past has held the service in jails or homes for elderly people, had delegated the evening Mass. Some have speculated that he wants to rest ahead of 3 busier days. He suffers from sciatica, which causes pain when it flares up.

The pope is set to preside at two services on Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion and two on Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday, the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar, he delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.