The 88-year-old Francis was a no-show at Holy Thursday mass in St Peter's Basilica.
But there were unconfirmed media reports that he hoped to visit Rome's central prison later in the day to keep an appointment he has maintained throughout his 12-year papacy: to commemorate Christ's Last Supper before his crucifixion with the least fortunate.
Francis, who is recovering from a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia this winter, is expected to make at least some Easter appearances.
He made a surprise cameo at the end of Palm Sunday Mass last weekend and in recent days has made some unannounced visits to pray in St Peter's Basilica and St Mary Major basilica across town.
By all indications he is continuing to improve after his five-week hospital stay and is slowly resuming his usual activities.
In recent outings, he has been seen without the nasal tubes that provide supplemental oxygen and Vatican officials say he is increasingly less reliant on the therapy.
On Wednesday, Francis held his first formal group audience since returning to the Vatican on March 23, meeting the medical staff who cared for him during his 38-day stay at Gemelli hospital.
Francis asked the 70-plus doctors, nurses and administrators for their continued prayers.
"Thank you for everything you did," Francis said, his voice still laboured but seemingly stronger as he continues respiratory and physical therapy.
Francis has delegated the demanding Holy Week liturgical celebrations to hand-picked cardinals, but the Vatican says the Pope himself composed the meditations that will be read aloud by others during the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession on Friday night at Rome's Colosseum.
The Holy Thursday mass, for example was celebrated by the retired head of the Vatican's patrimony office, Cardinal Domenico Calcagno.
Friday's solemn commemoration before the crucifixion of Christ was assigned to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, who heads the Vatican office in charge of eastern rite Catholics.
Easter Sunday went to the retired administrator of S Peter's, Cardinal Angelo Comastri.
It remains to be seen how Francis will handle Easter Sunday's traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (Latin for "to the city and the world") speech and blessing after mass.
Usually, the Pope delivers a discourse on the state of the world from the loggia of St Peter's, and then imparts a blessing to the faithful in the piazza below.
In theory, someone else could read the speech and Francis could impart the blessing.
Francis was admitted to Gemelli on February 14 with bronchitis that quickly developed into a life-threatening case of double pneumonia.
Upon his release on March 23, doctors prescribed two months of convalescence with daily respiratory and physical therapy to improve his breathing and vocal function.
With time, they say he will be able to resume his normal activities.
