I was once in Italy on Easter Sunday in a town, Pienza, whose cathedral was commissioned by an early Pope, Pius II (1458-1464), who frequently stayed in an adjacent palace designed to be his retreat. This, I thought, was going to be quite an experience – Easter Sunday in Italy at a church that a Pope built. 

The church was packed, as expected for that day, but what surprised me was that there was no support staff except for one usher. During the mass, he also held the plate beneath the communion chalice. There was no choir, so Easter was a two man show.