Monks, People with Disabilities, and Migrants Carry the Cross at the Colosseum
During the first station of the Way of the Cross near the Colosseum on Good Friday evening, the cross was held by cloistered nuns and a hermit monk.
This symbolic procession also saw the participation of people with disabilities and migrants, highlighting inclusivity and solidarity.
Pope Francis, in a last-minute decision, abstained from attending the event. Similar to the previous year, he followed the procession from his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta.
The pontiff did take part in the Friday afternoon liturgy. According to a brief statement from the Vatican, the evening's absence was intended to safeguard the Pope's health, as he is scheduled to lead the Easter Vigil on Saturday night in St. Peter's Basilica and celebrate Mass on Sunday.
Strict security measures were in place as twenty-five thousand individuals were allowed onto the square in front of the Colosseum. Both believers and tourists, candles in hand, followed the via Crucis, which traditionally starts inside the Colosseum, passes by the Arch of Constantine, and extends up to the hill facing the ancient amphitheater.
Across the fourteen stations, the cross was carried by a diverse group including cloistered nuns and monks, members of a family home, staff and patients of a rehabilitation center, a family, individuals with disabilities, members of prayer groups, women providing church healthcare services, migrants, priests from the Roman Diocese, catechists, and youth. Volunteers from the Caritas service carried the cross at the final station.
This year marked the first time that Pope Francis personally wrote the texts for the meditations recited at the stations. The Pope reflected on the oppressed and unjustly treated "Christs" in today's world, including children who have lost their smiles due to the madness of war, abused women, and the crosses that continue to weigh heavily on humanity, such as persecuted Christians.
Security for the area around the Colosseum was heavily enforced, with six hundred police and military personnel on patrol and snipers positioned on nearby rooftops, authorities reported. Individuals were allowed into the square in front of the Colosseum after passing through metal detectors one by one. The nearby metro station was also closed.
The last instance of such heightened security measures was during the Good Friday night following the 2015 European terrorist attacks.
The heightened security level will remain in effect until Tuesday.
Pope Francis, in a last-minute decision, abstained from attending the event. Similar to the previous year, he followed the procession from his Vatican residence, the Casa Santa Marta.
The pontiff did take part in the Friday afternoon liturgy. According to a brief statement from the Vatican, the evening's absence was intended to safeguard the Pope's health, as he is scheduled to lead the Easter Vigil on Saturday night in St. Peter's Basilica and celebrate Mass on Sunday.
Strict security measures were in place as twenty-five thousand individuals were allowed onto the square in front of the Colosseum. Both believers and tourists, candles in hand, followed the via Crucis, which traditionally starts inside the Colosseum, passes by the Arch of Constantine, and extends up to the hill facing the ancient amphitheater.
Across the fourteen stations, the cross was carried by a diverse group including cloistered nuns and monks, members of a family home, staff and patients of a rehabilitation center, a family, individuals with disabilities, members of prayer groups, women providing church healthcare services, migrants, priests from the Roman Diocese, catechists, and youth. Volunteers from the Caritas service carried the cross at the final station.
This year marked the first time that Pope Francis personally wrote the texts for the meditations recited at the stations. The Pope reflected on the oppressed and unjustly treated "Christs" in today's world, including children who have lost their smiles due to the madness of war, abused women, and the crosses that continue to weigh heavily on humanity, such as persecuted Christians.
Security for the area around the Colosseum was heavily enforced, with six hundred police and military personnel on patrol and snipers positioned on nearby rooftops, authorities reported. Individuals were allowed into the square in front of the Colosseum after passing through metal detectors one by one. The nearby metro station was also closed.
The last instance of such heightened security measures was during the Good Friday night following the 2015 European terrorist attacks.
The heightened security level will remain in effect until Tuesday.
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Translated by AI
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