The Colosseum has historical significance for the Church’s Good Friday observance. On April 3, 2023, Pope Leo XIV carried the cross through all 14 stations of the Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum, marking the first Good Friday of his pontificate. This event drew approximately 30,000 participants, highlighting its importance to the faithful.

This year’s service was particularly notable as it was the first time in over three decades that a Pope personally carried the cross throughout every station. The last Pope to do so was St John Paul II, who carried the cross from 1980 until 1994.

The meditations for the service were written by Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, who emphasized the significance of the Via Crucis as a lived experience within the world’s noise and confusion. Pope Leo XIV reflected on the suffering of Christ, stating, “Christ still suffers in the afflicted and that those sufferings are carried in prayer.”

The service included prayers for various groups, including political prisoners, victims of war, migrants and refugees, the poor, the lonely, and children robbed of their childhood. This inclusive approach underscores the Church’s commitment to addressing contemporary social issues.

The Colosseum has been bound to the Church’s Good Friday observance for centuries. Pope Benedict XIV dedicated the Colosseum in 1756 to the memory of Christ’s passion and the early Christian martyrs, and the tradition was revived by St John XXIII and made a regular feature of papal Holy Week by St Paul VI.

As observers reflect on this historic event, it is expected that Pope Leo XIV will continue to emphasize the importance of compassion and prayer in his papacy, particularly during significant liturgical events. The participation of thousands in this solemn observance demonstrates the enduring relevance of these traditions in modern times.

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