Pope Francis will watch Way of the Cross event from the Vatican instead of attending

Pope Francis, who was recently hospitalized for bronchitis, will not go to the Colosseum for the traditional Good Friday Way of the Cross procession, but will watch from his home in the Vatican because of the cold night temperatures in Rome, the Holy See. said.

Francis went ahead with an evening prayer service at St Peter’s Basilica to mark Good Friday, which commemorates the death of Jesus by crucifixion. Wearing a crimson robe, Francis, who has chronic knee problems, used a wheelchair to reach the central area of ​​the basilica, where he led the service.

The 86-year-old pope was discharged from a Rome hospital on April 1 after spending three days there receiving antibiotic treatment for bronchitis. The Vatican said at the time that it will carry out the full Holy Week schedule, including the Way of the Cross procession and mass in St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday.

On Holy Thursday, he led a nearly two-hour mass at the Basilica of St. Peter and then went to the youth prison of Rome, where he washed and dried the feet of dozens of residents in a ritual that symbolizes humility and remembers Jesus doing the same gesture. for the 12 apostles.

While Rome has recently experienced spring-like weather during the day to Rome, the temperature has dropped to 4 C after dark.

“Because it is very cold today, Pope Francis will follow the Stations of the Cross this evening [the] Hotel Santa Marta, united in prayer with those who will gather with the Diocese of Rome at the Colosseum,” the Vatican said in a brief statement.

The procession usually attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and citizens of Rome. They take turns carrying a light cross while meditation and prayers are recited. The Pope usually watches the procession from the top facing the Colosseum, and ends the event with a speech and a blessing.

Francis is also scheduled to lead an Easter vigil mass on Saturday night at the basilica. On Sunday, he will be in St. Peter for morning mass. He is expected to give a long speech about wars and other conflicts in the world, known as Latin, The city and the world.