Pope Francis abruptly pulled out of Friday’s Way of the Cross ceremony, citing a desire to “preserve his health” ahead of major Easter celebrations this weekend, according to the Vatican.
The 87-year-old’s armchair had been placed on the hill overlooking the Colosseum in Rome, but it was removed since the announcement came just seconds before the Good Friday ritual.
“To preserve his health ahead of tomorrow’s vigil and the Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis will this evening follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence,” the Vatican said in a statement.
The pope did not attend last year’s open-air ceremony, which occurred shortly after he was released from a three-night hospital stay with bronchitis.
Pope got what the Vatican described as a “light flu” last month, forcing him to cancel some events, and he has subsequently asked others to deliver his addresses.
Thousands of people attended the service on Friday evening, and many of them had candles in their hands. It was one of the highlights of the Holy Week leading up to Easter.
For the first time since becoming Pope, Francis drafted the lines that will be read at each of the 14 Stations of the Cross, which represent Christ’s journey from death sentence to execution.
On Sunday, the Argentine will preside over the Easter liturgy in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before delivering the “Urbi et Orbi” message.
Pope Francis, who had part of his lung removed as a child, was forced to abandon his travel to the COP28 UN climate negotiations in Dubai in December due to flu-like symptoms.
The pontiff, who took over as head of the Catholic Church in 2013, has had a variety of health difficulties in recent years, including knee and hip pain, an irritated colon, and hernia surgery in June.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
