[ad_1]
VATICAN – O Pope Francisco He presided over a historic Via Crucis this Friday 10, which was held in St. Peter’s Square, and not in the Colosseum as usual. The Vatican square was completely empty, silent, lit by several candles on the ground.
The Colosseum, which is considered a symbol of the persecution and suffering of the early Christians, was not the setting for the Via Crucis this year due to coronavirus. As a precautionary measure, St. Peter’s Square was also closed to the public.
Francis offered a short prayer that humanity would not succumb to darkness. Lord, do not leave us in the dark and in the shadow of death. Protect us with the shield of your power. God, defender of the poor and afflicted, help us bear the daily yoke. “The rest of the time, he observed the passages that narrate the terrible experience of Jesus, from his condemnation to the grave.
This year, the Pope is having a rather peculiar Easter. There was no chrism mass, the Pope did not wash the feet of the detainees and the faithful did not attend the ceremony, who have to accompany the celebrations online. However, precautionary measures did not prevent photographers and cameras from coming together to record historical images.
The bearers of the cross began their journey on the obelisk and advanced towards the place where the pope was. The group carrying the cross consisted of five Padua inmates and five Vatican doctors and nurses.
Among those who wrote the testimonies are five prisoners, a family who was the victim of murder, the daughter of a man sentenced to life in prison, an educator from correctional institutions, and a prison surveillance judge. Also the mother of a detainee, a catechist, a volunteer friar, a police officer, a priest acquitted after eight years of legal proceedings.
The texts read at the ceremony were compiled by Chaplain Marco Pozza and volunteer Tatiana Mario. They were written in the first person, but they did not bear any signature, a gesture to make it clear that they all share the same condition in the world.
Receive in your email the main news of the day about coronavirus
To understand
Coronavirus: see what is already known about the disease
The disease is leaving victims in Asia and has already been diagnosed in other continents; The World Health Organization is on alert to prevent epidemics
[ad_2]
