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Pope Leo Carries Cross for All 14 Stations During Good Friday Procession, First Pontiff to Do So in Decades
Updated on: April 3, 2026 / 7:36 PM EDT / AP
TL;DR
- Pope Leo XIV carried the cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum.
- This was the first time in decades a pope carried the cross for the entire procession.
- The meditation for the first station emphasized the accountability of those in authority to God.
- Approximately 30,000 faithful attended the torchlit procession.
- Previous popes like John Paul II carried the cross for extended periods, while Benedict XVI and Francis had different approaches.
- Pope Leo XIV is described as physically fit, an avid tennis player and swimmer at 70.
- The Way of the Cross commemorates the final hours of Jesus' life.