Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV will personally carry the Cross during the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday, April 3, marking a deeply symbolic moment in his first Holy Week as leader of the Catholic Church.
Pope will preside over all fourteen stations of the Via Crucis, a traditional prayer service that remembers the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the way to Golgotha. His decision to carry the Cross throughout the entire ceremony highlights a strong message of solidarity with people who are suffering around the world.
The reflections for this year’s service have been prepared by Francesco Patton, a Franciscan priest who served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. His writings are expected to focus on pain, hope, and faith, especially drawing from the struggles faced by people in the Middle East.
The Vatican said the meditations will be released on Friday morning ahead of the evening celebration. Father Patton, who has often written from Mount Nebo in Jordan, is known for reflecting on the hardships of communities living in conflict areas.
Last year, the meditations were written by Pope Francis after he returned to the Vatican following a long stay in hospital. However, the Good Friday service in 2025 was led by Baldassarre Reina at the Pope’s request.
This year’s celebration is expected to draw thousands of pilgrims and faithful to Rome, as Pope Leo XIV begins shaping his own spiritual message through one of the most powerful liturgies of the Christian calendar.