Leo Is First Pope in Decades to Do This

On his first Good Friday since becoming pope, Pope Leo XIV personally carried the wooden cross through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum, something a pope has not done for every station in many decades, according to the Associated Press.

Before the ceremony, Leo spoke to reporters outside the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo. He said the gesture was meant to highlight the meaning of Christ’s suffering and the role of the papacy as a moral voice in the world. The pope said he holds the suffering of others in his prayers and hopes the act would serve as a meaningful symbol for those watching.

The ceremony began inside the Colosseum, where Leo raised the cross and started the traditional procession. Two torchbearers walked alongside him during the roughly hour-long observance. The route led from inside the ancient amphitheater, through crowds gathered outside, and up the steep steps toward Palatine Hill, where Leo delivered the final blessing.

The meditation for the first station, which reflects the moment Jesus is sentenced to death, emphasized the responsibility carried by people in positions of authority. The text noted that leaders must ultimately answer to God for how they use their power, whether that power involves judging others, beginning or ending wars, encouraging violence or peace, or choosing revenge instead of reconciliation. The reflection was written by Rev. Francesco Patton, who served as custodian of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025 and oversees important Christian holy sites.

An estimated 30,000 worshippers gathered around the Colosseum to follow the service. The prayers and reflections for each station were broadcast over loudspeakers so the crowd could participate as the procession moved along the route.

Historically, popes have taken different roles in the Good Friday observance. Pope John Paul II carried the cross for the entire procession from the start of his papacy in 1979 until hip surgery in 1995, after which he carried it only part of the way. Pope Benedict XVI carried the cross during the first station inside the Colosseum in the early years of his papacy, then walked behind others who continued the procession to the platform on Palatine Hill. Pope Francis did not carry the cross but took part in the observance until declining health limited his participation. Francis died following a long illness on Easter Monday last year, which fell on April 21.