In Jerusalem, Palestinian Christians observe scaled-down Good Friday rituals
Jerusalem AP Hundreds of Christians participated in a customary Good Friday procession through the limestone walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, commemorating one of the faith’s most sacred days with noticeably thinner crowds amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The procession, which normally draws thousands of foreign visitors, was unusually local — mostly Palestinian Christians, joined by some […]
Pope skips Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to preserve health, Vatican says
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, adding to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period. Francis had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession, which re-enacts Christ’s Passion and crucifixion, and composed the meditations […]
Sight-Seeing: Only the enemy-loving Way of the Cross can save Israel and Gaza
NILS VON KALM reflects on how we, as Christians, are called to respond to the violence in Israel and Gaza…
In Portugal, thousands reflect with Pope on modern worries, endangered planet
Lisbon, Portugal Reuters Hundreds of thousands of young people reflected on their anxieties, enslavement to the “tyranny” of social media and yearning to save the planet at a huge outdoor rally with Pope Francis on Friday. It took nearly an hour for the open vehicle carrying the 86-year-old pope to drive slowly through the crowd at Lisbon’s Edward VII […]
Text at Pope’s Good Friday service scrapped after Ukrainian protest
Rome, ItalyReuters A Ukrainian and a Russian woman took part in Pope Francis’ Good Friday “Way of the Cross” service, but the meditation they wrote was scrapped after Ukrainians protested, saying the war made it inopportune. The traditional Via Crucis procession at Rome’s Colosseum had become embroiled in controversy earlier this week when the programme […]
Ukrainians want Russians removed from Pope’s Good Friday procession
Vatican CityReuters The Vatican’s decision to have both Ukrainians and Russians take part in Pope Francis’ “Way of the Cross” procession on Friday has caused friction with Ukrainian Catholic leaders, who want it to be reconsidered. The annual Via Crucis event on Good Friday at the Colosseum consists of the 14 Stations of the Cross, […]
During Way of the Cross, Pope Francis put children at the centre
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis presided at a scaled back “Way of the Cross” service held in an empty St Peter’s Square on Friday due to coronavirus restrictions, listening as children recounted their fears and dreams. It was the second consecutive year that the “Via Crucis” procession, commemorating the last hours in Jesus’ life, was not […]