Posted on Apr 8, 2023
Pope Francis skips traditional Good Friday procession at the Colosseum in chilly Rome
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https://www.npr.org/2023/04/08/ [login to see] /pope-francis-good-friday-colosseum-rome
Pope Francis, hospitalized recently with bronchitis, skipped the traditional Good Friday nighttime procession at the Colosseum because of chilly weather in Rome, staying instead at his home at the Vatican while thousands of faithful turned out for the torchlit event.
This Good Friday was the first time a pontiff was a no-show at the Colosseum Way of the Cross procession since 2005. Then, a weakened and ailing St. John Paul II, eight days before his death, silently watched the Way of the Cross ritual on TV at his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
The Vatican had said Francis would preside at the ancient Roman arena at the procession that recalls Jesus' suffering before his crucifixion and death on a cross. But just a few hours before the procession's start, the Vatican, citing the "intense cold" that has made evenings unseasonably chilly in Rome these days, revealed that Francis would stay at his residence in a hotel in Vatican City and follow the event from there.
Pope Francis, hospitalized recently with bronchitis, skipped the traditional Good Friday nighttime procession at the Colosseum because of chilly weather in Rome, staying instead at his home at the Vatican while thousands of faithful turned out for the torchlit event.
This Good Friday was the first time a pontiff was a no-show at the Colosseum Way of the Cross procession since 2005. Then, a weakened and ailing St. John Paul II, eight days before his death, silently watched the Way of the Cross ritual on TV at his apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
The Vatican had said Francis would preside at the ancient Roman arena at the procession that recalls Jesus' suffering before his crucifixion and death on a cross. But just a few hours before the procession's start, the Vatican, citing the "intense cold" that has made evenings unseasonably chilly in Rome these days, revealed that Francis would stay at his residence in a hotel in Vatican City and follow the event from there.
Pope Francis skips traditional Good Friday procession at the Colosseum in chilly Rome
Posted from npr.org
Religion
Christianity
Tradition
Rome
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."During the Good Friday basilica ceremony, the pope at times sounded hoarse while reading aloud and when he gave his blessing at the end of the nearly two-hour-long service.
At one point, he stood up to kiss a figure of Jesus on a tall cross which was brought to him, then bowed his head in silent reflection.
While Rome has lately experienced spring-like weather during the day, temperatures have dipped to 4 degrees Celsius after dark.
Francis is also scheduled to preside at an Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night in the basilica.
On Sunday, he is due to be in St Peter's Square for a mid-morning Mass.
He is expected to deliver a long speech that reviews wars and other conflicts in the world, known by its Latin name, "Urbi et Orbi"."
..."During the Good Friday basilica ceremony, the pope at times sounded hoarse while reading aloud and when he gave his blessing at the end of the nearly two-hour-long service.
At one point, he stood up to kiss a figure of Jesus on a tall cross which was brought to him, then bowed his head in silent reflection.
While Rome has lately experienced spring-like weather during the day, temperatures have dipped to 4 degrees Celsius after dark.
Francis is also scheduled to preside at an Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night in the basilica.
On Sunday, he is due to be in St Peter's Square for a mid-morning Mass.
He is expected to deliver a long speech that reviews wars and other conflicts in the world, known by its Latin name, "Urbi et Orbi"."
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Pope Francis is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church of the world, and as all of us is a human and we all will or are suffering from age. Jesus understands his frailaties and his disapearance from these ceremonies is of little matters. God bless the Pope and everyone believing in Jesus.
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