A gesture with historical weight
Pope Leo XIV did not choose a discreet debut for his first Good Friday. At 70 years old, he personally carried a five-foot wooden cross along the 14 stations of the Via Crucis in the Roman Colosseum. It is the first time in decades that a pontiff completes the entire route with the cross on his shoulder.
“I think it will be an important sign… a voice that says Christ still suffers,” León told reporters this week. “And I also carry all these sufferings in my prayers.”
Some 30,000 people followed the procession from outside the ancient amphitheater. For many, like Sister Pelenatita Kieoma Finau of Samoa, it was a moment filled with meaning.
“We have been part of the seasons in our parish, but this is so exciting,” he said. “It is very meaningful to have the experience of being with the people of Rome.”
A message in the gesture
The act reverses a recent trend. John Paul II carried the complete cross until 1995. Benedict XVI only carried it at the first station. Francisco, due to health problems, never took her.
The meditation prepared for the occasion, written by Father Francesco Patton, former custodian of the Holy Land, made the context clear: it spoke of power and its responsibility before God.
León, known for his good physical condition and his love of tennis and swimming, showed resilience during the hour-long tour, which ended with a blessing on the Palatine Hill.
This Holy Saturday he will preside over the Easter Vigil and baptize new faithful. On Sunday he will offer mass in San Pedro and the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing. His first Holy Week as pope already has a distinctive seal.
