US EditionPope Leo XIV to Carry Cross at All 14 Stations of Colosseum Way of the Cross on Good Friday
The pope is reviving a public Holy Thursday Mass and foot-washing, restoring traditional Holy Week rites to the Vatican schedule.
- On Good Friday, April 3, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will carry the cross himself through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum, marking the first time a pope has performed this action in over six decades.
- Predecessors like Pope Benedict XVI and John Paul traditionally carried the cross only at the opening and closing of the service, while Pope Francis often observed from the nearby Palatine Hill or did not attend due to health.
- Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, the former Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025, authored the meditations for this year's ceremony, often writing from Mount Nebo, Jordan, on Middle East conflict.
- Pope Leo is also restoring public Easter Triduum liturgies to their traditional setting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, where he will celebrate a public Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, including the traditional washing of feet.
- The Holy See Press Office announced that the official texts for the Good Friday service will be published on April 3, marking the first Holy Friday celebration of Pope Leo's pontificate.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Pope Leo to carry Cross at Via Crucis in Rome on Good Friday
Way of the Cross ceremony takes place at Colosseum on Friday night. Pope Leo XIV is to carry the Cross through all 14 stations of the Via Crucis at Rome's Colosseum on Good Friday, 3 April, in the first such ceremony of his pontificate. It is also the first time that a pope will carry the Cross for every station of the Via Crucis ceremony at the Colosseum since the tradition was revived at the site more than six decades ago, the Vatican said. Po…
Leo XIV will carry the cross along all fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross on Friday evening at the Colosseum, in Rome. As if to bear the burdens of humanity, in particular of the martyred Holy Land, in a sort of spiritual, personal and almost physical participation in the entire Passion of Christ. It will be a return to tradition, the one imprinted by Prevost, but in innovation (on a symbolic level) seen that never before today a Pontiff …
Northwest Catholic
The Catholic WeeklyPope Leo XIV to carry cross at all 14 stations of Colosseum Way of the Cross
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will carry the cross himself through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum on the first Good Friday of his pontificate.It will be the first time that a pope has carried the cross for every station in the Via Crucis since the tradition was revived at the site more than six decades ago.The 70-year-old pope’s predecessors Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II carried the cross only at the opening a…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
