The Vatican says Pope Francis has skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to protect his health, adding to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period.
ROME — Pope Francis skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to protect his health, the Vatican said, making a last-minute decision that added to concerns
“To conserve his health in view of the vigil tomorrow and Mass on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis at the Colosseum this evening from the Casa Santa Marta,” a statement from the Vatican press office said. The 87-year-old Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been battling what he and the Vatican have described as a case of the flu, bronchitis or a cold all winter long. For the last several weeks he has occasionallyPope, looking strong, washes feet of 12 women at Rome prison from his wheelchairAn AP photographer snags an unexpected image of the head of the Catholic Church
But at 9:10 p.m., five minutes before the official start of the procession, the Vatican press office announced on Telegram that he wouldn’t show up. The chair was quickly taken away., when the Vatican issued the pope’s homily in advance to journalists, and his aide got up to give him his glasses to read it, when Francis made clear he was skipping it.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican saysThe Vatican says Pope Francis is skipping the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum, adding to concerns about his frail health.
Read more »
Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican saysThe Vatican says Pope Francis is skipping the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to protect his health, adding to concerns about his frail condition during a particularly busy liturgical period.
Read more »
Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican saysThe Vatican says Pope Francis is skipping the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, adding to concerns about his frail health during a particularly busy liturgical period.
Read more »
Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican saysThe Vatican says Pope Francis is skipping the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, adding to concerns about his frail health during a particularly busy liturgical period
Read more »
Pope Francis skips homily at Palm Sunday Mass in rare movePope Francis unexpectedly skipped homily during the Palm Sunday Mass service in the Vatican on Sunday.
Read more »
Vatican diplomats seek to defuse pope's kerfuffle over Ukraine 'white flag' commentsThe Vatican secretary of state is trying to defuse outrage over Pope Francis’ latest diplomatic foray
Read more »