Pope Leo carries cross for all 14 stations during Good Friday procession, first pontiff to do so in decades
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff, marking the first time in decades a pope has done so.
- The procession, which lasted about an hour and ended at the Palatine Hill, was attended by some 30,000 faithful and included meditations emphasizing themes such as accountability of authority and Christ's suffering.
- Previous popes had varied in their participation: John Paul II carried the cross for the entire procession until health issues, Benedict XVI carried it only for the first station, and Pope Francis never carried the cross due to health concerns.
- The Way of the Cross ritual commemorates Jesus' final hours and is meant to be an active expression of faith engaged with real-world struggles, as highlighted by the meditation prepared for Pope Leo.
- At age 70, Pope Leo XIV is physically fit and active, enabling him to carry the cross throughout the procession; he will also preside over the Easter vigil and baptize new Catholics.
