Pope Francis suspended his participation in the Way of the Cross to preserve his health

Published at: 29/03/2024 07:58 PM

Pope Francis canceled his participation in the traditional Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome, to “preserve his health,” the Vatican press office said in a brief statement released a few minutes before the start of the event.

“To preserve his health and in view of tomorrow's Vigil and the Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, tonight the Holy Father Francis will follow the Way of the Cross from Casa Santa Marta,” the statement reads.

This is the second consecutive year that the supreme pontiff has not presided over the Way of the Cross. On this occasion, it was hoped that Francis would be able to attend, since he himself had already written the meditations that are read at each station of the Way of the Cross.