The Pope is not at the Colosseum. From where follows the Via Crucis – Time

Via Crucis, the Pope does not participate in the Via Crucis on Good Friday. The Pontiff followed the doctors’ advice and decided to maintain his health in view of his Easter commitments. «To preserve his health in view of the Vigil on Saturday and the Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, on Saturday evening Pope Francis followed the Via Crucis at the Colosseum from Casa Santa Marta». Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni made this known.

The Pope’s non-participation in the Via Crucis at the Colosseum was announced at the last moment as a surprise, contrary to what was communicated by the Vatican a couple of hours earlier. The reasons for this rethinking are dictated, as communicated by the Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, by the prudence of the Pontiff himself, who listens to the doctors, to conserve energy for the upcoming celebrations in view of Easter. On Sunday, precisely in view of the Easter tour de force, the Pontiff did not deliver the homily at the Palms. On Thursday, however, he presided over the Chrism Mass which kicked off the Easter Triduum, giving a long homily. Then, in the followingnoon, he went to Rebibbia and washed the feet of twelve inmates in wheelchairs. Then on Saturday the Pontiff presided over the celebration of the Passion of Christ in the Vatican Basilica. The Easter Vigil awaits him on Saturday from 7.30 pm in the Basilica and then the Easter mass on Sunday with the Urbi et Orbi blessing. Indeed, a tour de force for which the Pope prudently followed the Via Crucis from Santa Marta.