Pope Francis refuses to attend Stations of the Cross because of the cold
Pope Francis at Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Good Friday
Those: dpa/Andrew Medichini
Pope Francis was only released from a hospital on Saturday after suffering from bronchitis. The head of the Catholic Church celebrated a prayer service in the Vatican on Good Friday. However, Francis decided not to take part in the procession at the Colosseum because of the weather.
Dhe traditional Way of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday takes place without Pope Francis. Because of the unusually cold weather, the head of the Roman Catholic Church will follow the procession from his residence at the Hotel Santa Marta in the Vatican, the Holy See said on Friday. Just last week, the 86-year-old was released from a clinic in Rome after suffering from bronchitis.
However, Francis took part in the Passion Mass on late Friday afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica. Because of his chronic knee pain, he was wheeled into church.
The pope’s recent three-day hospital stay had fueled concerns that he would not be able to complete the busy Holy Week program at the Vatican. After his release on April 1, the Vatican said it would keep all commitments, including the Way of the Cross and the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
In Rome it was already spring-like during the day, but after sunset the temperatures dropped to around four degrees. The Pope will not participate in the Way of the Cross because of this extreme cold, but will unite in prayer with the faithful at the Colosseum, the Holy See said in a brief statement.
Believers walked the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday evening. The Pope followed the ceremony from the Vatican
Those: AP/Gregorio Borgia
Tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and residents of Rome usually join the torchlit procession. Believers take turns carrying a cross while praying. Francis usually observes the procession from a seated position and ends it with a blessing.
As planned, on Maundy Thursday he led a two-hour service in the basilica and later washed the feet of young prisoners in a gesture of humility. The ritual commemorates the washing of the feet of the twelve apostles by Jesus. On Saturday, the Pope is expected at the so-called Vigil in the Easter Vigil, an evening prayer, in the Vatican Basilica. The highlight of the Easter celebrations is Sunday Mass with the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing.