Pope Leo XIV Carries Cross During Good Friday Procession in Rome

Pope Leo XIV marked his first Good Friday as pontiff by carrying a wooden cross through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome on April 3, 2026. The act marked the first time in decades that a pope has carried the cross for the entirety of the Via Crucis procession.

The Pope is the second pontiff to perform this full procession, following the example of Pope St. John Paul II, who carried the cross for the entire event from 1980 until 1994.

The Procession at the Colosseum

During the torchlit event, Pope Leo XIV carried a lightweight wooden cross measuring 1.5 meters, or approximately five feet. Flanked by two torchbearers, the Pope led the hourlong rite, beginning inside the candlelit ruins of the Colosseum, moving through the crowds gathered outside and ascending the stairs to the Palatine Hill, where he delivered the final blessing.

Approximately 30,000 faithful gathered at the ancient Roman amphitheatre to participate in the spiritual pilgrimage, while millions more followed the event via television, radio, and social media.

Among those in attendance was Sister Pelenatita Kieoma Finau, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary from Samoa, who described the experience of attending the stations at the Colosseum as exciting.

Meditations on Power and Suffering

The liturgy featured passages from the Gospel and excerpts from the writings of St. Francis. Meditations for the event were written by Franciscan Fr. Francesco Patton, who served as the Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025.

Fr. Patton’s meditations focused on how Christians can embody the theological virtues of love, hope, and faith in the modern world, mirroring the path Jesus took through the streets of Jerusalem to Golgotha.

At the first station, which commemorates the condemnation of Jesus, the meditation emphasized the accountability of those in positions of authority. The text noted that those with power must answer to God for how that power is exercised, specifically citing the power to judge, the power to initiate or end wars, the power to incite violence or peace, and the power to choose between revenge and reconciliation.

The Pope’s Perspective

Speaking to reporters outside the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo prior to the event, Pope Leo XIV explained the symbolic intent behind his decision to carry the cross.

I think it will be an important sign because of what the pope represents, a spiritual leader in the world today, and for this voice, that everyone wants to hear, that says Christ still suffers,

Pope Leo XIV

The Pope further stated, I carry all of this suffering in my prayer.