Thousands of Catholics pray with pope at Rome’s Colosseum
Large crowds gathered to experience the Way of the Cross procession at the historic landmark. The procession took place this year under exceptionally high security, reports DW.
Tens of thousands of Catholics gathered at the Colosseum in the Italian capital on Friday for the traditional Way of the Cross procession that commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, who was crucified by the Romans 2,000 years ago.
Pope Francis, who earlier took part in a Good Friday service in St. Peter’s Basilica, prostrating himself in prayer for several minutes before the central altar, delivered a homily at the service. In it, he asked God for forgiveness for various scandals in the Catholic Church, and also spoke of the “shame” that humanity should feel at the daily deaths of innocent people in wars or at refugees drowning at sea.
The Catholic Church has been hit by numerous scandals in past years involving clergy who have sexually abused children. Church authorities have been accused of failing to punish bishops who covered up such abuse or did not do enough to prevent it.
