Pope Leo XIV to Personally Carry Cross During Good Friday Procession, Marking a Historic First
Pope Leo XIV will personally carry the wooden cross through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff. This marks the first time in decades that a pope carries the cross to every station. Pope Leo XIV, who is physically fit and an avid tennis player and swimmer, aims to symbolize the suffering of Christ through this act. The procession commemorates the final hours of Jesus' life, from his death sentence to his crucifixion, death, and burial. Crowds are expected to gather outside the Colosseum for this significant event, which ends atop the Palatine Hill. The meditations read at each station were composed by Rev. Francesco Patton, emphasizing the real-world application of faith, hope, and charity. 
