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Pope Francis at the Passion Liturgy on Good Friday in St. Peter's Basilica
Photo: Domenico Stinellis/dpa
Pope Francis canceled his participation in the Good Friday procession in the Colosseum in Rome at short notice for health reasons. The 87-year-old is protecting his health in view of further Easter commitments, says the Vatican.
The head of the Catholic Church will follow the "Via Crucis" at the Colosseum from his residence in the Vatican, the Holy See announced just a few minutes before the start of the Stations of the Cross devotion at the ancient amphitheater on Friday evening.
He has been in poor health for months
Observers had already wondered whether the 87-year-old Francis, who had been in poor health for several months, would take part in the “Via Crucis” outdoors. Last year he had already given up his participation at short notice. At the time, Francis was just recovering from bronchitis. The pontiff is again struggling with the consequences of a respiratory infection. He clearly finds it difficult to speak for long periods of time.
In the afternoon, the pontiff celebrated the Good Friday liturgy "Suffering and Death of the Lord" in St. Peter's Basilica. Temperatures between 15 and 17 degrees were expected in Rome in the evening.
lph/Reuters/dpa