Pope Francis skips Good Friday procession for third consecutive year due to health

Pope Francis, still recovering from double pneumonia, was absent from the annual Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, marking the third consecutive year he has missed the event. The 88-year-old pontiff, who is following medical advice to limit public appearances, did not attend the Via Crucis ceremony, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The Via Crucis, held at the Colosseum, involves reenactments of Jesus’ death, with participants walking around the ancient arena while holding the cross and offering prayers. The location is significant as it is believed to have been a site of early Christian martyrdom. Good Friday, which leads into Easter Sunday, holds profound religious importance, marking the resurrection of Jesus.

Pope Francis, who has served as the head of the Catholic Church since 2013, was seriously ill with double pneumonia earlier this year and spent five weeks recovering. He had also missed the Colosseum procession in 2023 and 2024. Despite his absence, Francis personally wrote the meditations for the ceremony, focusing on themes of war, economic hardship, and the role of women in the Church.

The Vatican has not yet confirmed whether the Pope will attend other Easter services over the weekend. He had also missed an earlier event at the Vatican on Thursday.

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