Two friends – a Ukrainian and a Russian – carry the cross in memory of the Passion of Jesus Christ. For the Pope it is a gesture of peace. Kyiv criticized the action.
Despite criticism from Ukraine, a Ukrainian and a Russian woman carried the cross together for a piece at the traditional Way of the Cross devotion in Rome. The Vatican wanted to set a sign of peace with the action on the evening of Good Friday.
However, bishops and church representatives from Ukraine had previously spoken out against the action because they believed that it would not adequately portray Russia as an aggressor.
Pope Francis, who celebrated the Way of the Cross in front of around 10,000 believers at the Colosseum for the first time since 2019 after two Corona cancellations, stuck to the plan with the two women. At least the Vatican changed the text that was then read out at short notice. The 85-year-old pontiff, who has long suffered from knee problems, followed the procession of the “Via Crucis” sitting in front of the ancient amphitheater.
The two nurses and friends who live in Rome carried the cross in memory of the Passion of Jesus Christ at the 13th and penultimate station. This commemorates the death of Christ. The text for this section of the trail has been changed at short notice. “In the face of death, silence speaks louder than words,” it said. Then those present were asked to pray in silence for peace in the world. The Pope buried his face behind his hand.
The originally planned text was: «Where are you Lord? Where are you hiding? We want our old life back. Why all that? What mistake have we made? why did you let us down Why did you abandon our peoples?” Many Ukrainians found this inappropriate.
Source: Stern
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