Pope Francis does not participate in the Via Crucis at the Colosseum, in Rome. “To preserve his health in view of tomorrow's Vigil and the Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, this evening Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum from Casa Santa Marta”, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni shortly before the celebration.
It is the second time that the Pope skips the Via Crucis at the Colosseum. Last year too Bergoglio did not go due to the intense cold of those days, having just returned from hospitalization at Gemelli for pneumonia.
The Pope's non-participation in the Via Crucis 2024 at the Colosseum was announced at the last moment as a surprise, contrary to what was communicated by the Vatican a couple of hours earlier. The reasons for this rethinking are dictated, as communicated by the Vatican spokesperson, by the prudence of the Pontiff himself, who listens to the doctors, to conserve energy for the upcoming celebrations in view of Easter.
Last Sunday, precisely in view of the Easter tour de force, the Pontiff did not deliver the homily at the Palms. On Thursday 28 March he presided over the Chrism Mass which kicked off the Easter Triduum, giving a long homily. Then, in the afternoon, he went to Rebibbia and washed the feet of twelve inmates in wheelchairs.
According to the program for Friday 29 March, the Pontiff presided over the celebration of the Passion of Christ in the Vatican Basilica. The Easter Vigil awaits him on Saturday 30 March from 7.30 pm in the Basilica and then the Easter mass on Sunday with the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
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