Pope Francis has become known for his down-to-earth personality, community outreach, and penchant for breaking from traditional Vatican customs. On Good Friday, however, the Pope was forced to break tradition for a different reason: the weather. It was announced that Pope Francis will miss the annual Good Friday procession in Rome due to inclement weather, marking the first time in his papacy that he will not attend this significant event. With this announcement, questions arise about the Pope’s health and what this signifies for his leadership.
Pope Francis was forced to skip the Good Friday procession due to the extremely cold weather in Rome which was expected to be around 10C (50F) on Friday night, making it the first time he will not preside at the Way of the Cross service since his election in 2013. The Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Brun, reported that the Pope will still attend the indoor Passion of the Lord celebration in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican. The 86-year-old Pope was discharged last weekend following a bout of bronchitis and is expected to carry out the complete Holy Week schedule, including the Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square.
The Roman Catholic Church has Holy Week as its centerpiece for the year, which commemorates the final week of Jesus Christ’s life. The week spans from Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, to Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday. One of the most important events during Holy Week is the Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross, where the Passion of Christ is brought to life through a procession of 14 stations, each commemorating a different Biblical event that occurred on Jesus’ journey to His crucifixion.
The Way of the Cross service is normally held outdoors in Rome at the Colosseum to replicate the route of Jesus Christ to His crucifixion. This year, due to the pandemic, the number of participants has been restricted to avoid the spread of the virus. The Pope’s absence from the outdoor ceremony is a disappointment, but the Passion of the Lord celebration in St Peter’s Basilica is still expected to be attended by a socially distanced congregation.
Although the Pope missed the Way of the Cross service on Good Friday, he presided over mass at the Casal del Marmo juvenile facility, washing and drying the feet of a dozen residents who were mainly Muslim, in an Easter ritual. He then described the feet-washing ritual as “a gesture of brotherhood” and said that “we are all brothers and we should always remain so,” underscoring the importance of interfaith unity amidst the pandemic.
The Pope’s Easter schedule continued with his attendance at the traditional Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square. However, the blessing ceremony was delivered indoors in the Paul VI audience hall instead of the usual balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica due to the pandemic-related restrictions. The Vatican had earlier stated that a small number of faithful could attend the Easter Mass, which was moved to a location with a larger space to accommodate the attendees safely.
In his Easter message, the Pope has called for an end to conflicts and to the “clash of arms” in Syria, Yemen, and other countries. He also prayed for the displaced and asked the international community to support the “vulnerable populations” of Syria, Yemen, and other regions of the world. The Pope highlighted the need for vaccines for less developed countries and urged the people to reject nationalist or selfish approaches to getting them.
In conclusion, the Pope’s absence from the Way of the Cross ceremony has not affected the meaning of Holy Week and the passion of Christ, which continues to be a significant event for the Roman Catholic Church. Despite the pandemic, the Pope has continued his duties including the ritual of feet-washing, which symbolizes the importance of brotherhood and interfaith unity. The Pope’s message for an end to conflicts and the support for the vulnerable during these difficult times offers hope and inspiration to everyone worldwide.
