Pope Francis did not take part in the Good Friday Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome to “conserve his health” ahead of Easter, the Vatican has said.
The Pope, 87, was expected to preside over the event but it was announced before it started that he was following the procession from his home at the Vatican.
The procession re-enacts Christ’s Passion and crucifixion, and the Pope composed the meditations that are read aloud at each station.
“To conserve his health in view of the vigil tomorrow and Mass on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum this evening from the Casa Santa Marta,” a statement from the Vatican press office said.
He missed last year’s procession due to “extremely cold weather” in Rome.
The Pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling what he and the Vatican have described as a case of the flu, bronchitis or a cold all winter long.
For the last few weeks he has occasionally asked an aide to read aloud his speeches, as well as skipping his Palm Sunday homily.
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Source Agencies
