'He carries the whole Church': Faithful cheer Pope Leo during Good Friday procession

Record ID: 2373258

  • Title: 'He carries the whole Church': Faithful cheer Pope Leo during Good Friday procession
  • Date: 3rd April 2026
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (APRIL 3, 2026) (REUTERS) VIEW OF COLOSSEUM NUN PRAYING VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS HANDING OVER BOOKLETS NUN HOLDING CANDLE, BROWSING THROUGH BOOKLET VARIOUS OF FAITHFUL HOLDING CANDLES (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FAITHFUL, LUIGIA AMBROSIO, SAYING: “There’s a feeling of extreme contemplation and extreme curiosity, if I may say so, because it’s the first time that this new
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  • Keywords: COLOSSEUM FAITHFUL GOOD FRIDAY LEO PEACE POPE PROCESSION
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Vatican City
  • Topics: Europe,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001970003042026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of faithful gathered at the Colosseum in Rome on Friday (April 3) to see Pope Leo presiding over a traditional "Way of the Cross" procession.
    The first U.S. pope carried a wooden cross through the ancient amphitheatre on the day Christians commemorate Jesus' death by crucifixion.
    “It's an example for us Christians, for us religious, seeing a pastor of the Church carrying the cross. He carries it with him, he carries the whole Church, he carries us too”, sister Martina said.
    Leo, the first U.S. pope and at age 70 a relatively young pontiff, carried a tall wooden cross during a traditional procession known as a Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), which marks 14 of the final moments in Jesus' life, from his sentencing to death up to his burial.
    Good Friday is the second of four Catholic holidays leading to Easter Sunday, when Leo will deliver a special blessing and message from the balcony of St. Peter's ​Basilica.
    One of the most closely watched appointments on the Vatican's calendar, the Easter speech is usually a time when the pope makes a major international appeal.
    (Production: Claudia Chieppa, Roberto Mignucci)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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