Pope Francis was unable to attend the traditional Good Friday procession at the Colosseum in Rome due to health concerns, the Vatican announced. He had been expected to preside over the Way of the Cross procession but decided to follow the event from his home at the Vatican. This decision was made to preserve his health for the upcoming Easter Sunday Mass as he has been struggling with the flu, bronchitis, or a cold throughout the winter.
This marked the first time during his 11-year papacy that Pope Francis skipped the Good Friday procession, drawing comparisons to when St. John Paul II watched the event from the Apostolic Palace before his death in 2005. Despite being prepared to attend, a last-minute decision was made just moments before the event was set to begin, with his chair already in place.
Efforts were made by his aide to ensure Francis could still observe the event. Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza was present to adjust a television screen so that Francis could have a clear view. However, at 9:10 p.m., it was announced that Pope Francis would not be present leading to swift removal of his chair as
