Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross throughout the entire Good Friday Way of the Cross procession at Rome’s Colosseum, marking the first time in decades that a pope has undertaken this act for all 14 stations. The event took place on April 3, 2026, during the pope’s first Good Friday as pontiff.
During the hourlong procession, Pope Leo, flanked by two torchbearers, carried a lightweight, five-foot wooden cross from inside the Colosseum, through the gathered crowd, and up the steep stairs to the Palatine Hill, where he delivered the final blessing. Some 30,000 faithful participated, following the stations as they were recited over loudspeakers.
The Via Crucis ritual commemorates the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life, from his condemnation to death, through carrying the cross and crucifixion, to burial. Each station is accompanied by specific meditations, including one for the first station that underscored the responsibility of those in power, emphasizing accountability before God for how authority is exercised.
In comments to reporters, Pope Leo described carrying the cross as an important spiritual sign. “I carry all of this suffering in my prayer,” he said, referencing the ongoing suffering Christ represents.
Why it matters
This act is significant because it marks a return to a longstanding tradition last fully performed by Pope John Paul II, who carried the cross for the entire procession from 1979 until 1995, when health issues limited his participation. Subsequent popes Benedict XVI and Francis did not maintain this practice fully. Pope Leo’s decision highlights a visible expression of his physical vitality and his symbolic role as a spiritual leader acknowledging global suffering.
Background
The Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum is a highly symbolic Good Friday event in the Catholic Church, held annually since 2000. The procession culminates on the Palatine Hill and involves reflections on each of the 14 stations that trace Jesus’ path to crucifixion. Historically, Popes have carried the cross themselves as a sign of solidarity with Christ’s passion and suffering.
At 70 years old, Pope Leo XIV is noted for his physical fitness, reportedly engaging regularly in tennis, swimming, and gym workouts before becoming pope. This contrasts with his recent predecessors, who began their papacies in their late 70s and faced health challenges that limited their participation in the procession.
Pope Leo will continue leading Easter celebrations in Rome, presiding over the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, including baptisms of new Catholics, and celebrating an open-air Mass on Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, followed by the traditional Easter blessing “Urbi et Orbi.”
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