Pope Leo XIV Carries Cross for Full Good Friday Procession, Marking a Historic First in Decades
Pope Leo XIV has made history by carrying a wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum during his first Good Friday as pontiff. This marks the first time in decades that a pope has carried the cross throughout the entire procession. The event took place in Rome, where Pope Leo XIV was accompanied by two torchbearers as he moved through the Colosseum, up to the Palatine Hill, where he delivered the final blessing. The meditation for the first station, which marks Jesus' condemnation to death, emphasized the responsibility of those in authority to answer to God for their actions. The event drew a crowd of approximately 30,000 faithful, including international participants, who followed the stations recited over loudspeakers. 
