No pope has ever carried the cross for the entire Via Crucis. But in a symbolic and eloquent gesture, Pope Leo XIV will be the first pontiff to do so during the liturgical service held every Good Friday at the Colosseum. The Pope explained the reason for his decision.
POPE LEO XIV
I think it will be an important sign because of what the Pope represents, the spiritual leader.
Christ still suffers. I carry all this suffering in my prayer as well.
There will be one meditation for each of the 14 Stations, reflecting on the evils of the modern world this year. These meditations were written by the Franciscan priest Francesco Patton, who served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025.
JRB
