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Pope Leo XIV carries cross for full Good Friday procession

newsApr 3, 2026

On Good Friday, Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross through all 14 Way of the Cross stations at the Colosseum. This was his first Good Friday as pontiff, and the first time a pope completed the full procession in decades. The Way of the Cross commemorates Jesus' final hours, from his death sentence to crucifixion and burial. Leo used the gesture to embody papal humility and to reject claims that military domination aligns with Christian teaching.

Key Highlights

Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross through all 14 stations.
He completed the full Colosseum Good Friday procession for the first time in decades.
He said military domination is entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.
3 sources
apnews.comPope Leo XIV carries cross for full Good Friday procession, the first pontiff to do so in decadesnytimes.comHegseth Says U.S. Troops Are Fighting for Jesus. The Pope Disagrees.chicagotribune.comPope Leo XIV to carry cross for entire procession, the first pontiff to do so in decades

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