ROME — The battle in Ukraine loomed over the standard Good Friday Colosseum procession in Rome, after the Vatican’s alternative of a Russian girl to be among the many cross-bearers angered Ukrainians.
For the primary time since earlier than the pandemic, the solemn torchlit procession returned to the traditional area in Rome Friday evening. 1000’s of pilgrims and vacationers held small, lit candles as Pope Francis, wanting pensive and sporting a white coat in opposition to the damp evening air, sat below a cover positioned on an elevated viewing level.
Procession contributors took turns carrying a plain, tall and slim cross. At every Station of the Cross, reflecting particulars of Jesus’ struggling and loss of life by crucifixion, a distinct household walked with the cross, and meditations, written by them and based mostly on household experiences, have been learn aloud. Mother and father have been accompanied by their younger kids or carried infants of their arms.
Earlier this week, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See and the archbishop of Kyiv denounced the Vatican’s plan to have a Ukrainian girl and a Russian girl carry the cross collectively in the course of the procession. They objected to projecting what they noticed as the thought of reconciliation whereas Ukraine is ravaged by battle unleashed by Russia.
The ladies have been recognized solely by their first names in interviews on Italian Rai state TV: Irina, a nurse from Ukraine and Albina, a Russian nursing pupil. Mates, they work collectively at a Rome hospital.
Forward of the procession, Albina advised Rai that it was necessary to “pray for the youngsters who’re no extra, for the troopers who misplaced their lives and may’t even be buried.” Irina described the sharing of the cross-carrying as a “nice accountability.”
The Vatican did not reply to the protests.
Whereas Francis has denounced the Feb. 24 invasion and assaults on Ukraine as a “sacrilege,” he has avoided naming Russia because the aggressor, though his references to Russian President Vladimir Putin have been clear.
However different devoted on the earth applauded the choice to pair the 2 girls, who work collectively in a palliative care part of a Rome hospital and are buddies, to hold the cross throughout a part of the procession, which recollects Jesus’ struggling as he was being delivered to his crucifixion and loss of life.
In Paris, tons of of Catholics gathered for Good Friday prayers on the forecourt of Notre Dame cathedral, and adopted its rector on a procession across the island on the Seine River that homes the medieval landmark.
“Nicely, you recognize at this time the pope has a girl from Ukraine and a girl from Russia holding the cross collectively at one of many Stations of the Cross,” Jennifer Kilgore-Caradec advised The AP at Notre Dame. She known as {that a} “very shifting and significant image.” She added: “I feel that actual individuals in the true world are involved about peace. We would like peace, we don’t need battle,” which brings struggling and ache. That’s “not the message of the Christ on the cross.”
The devoted weren’t allowed contained in the Paris cathedral, since it’s nonetheless below reconstruction after a 2019 blaze collapsed its spire and destroyed its roof.
In St. Peter’s Basilica, hours forward of the Colosseum occasion, Francis, sporting crimson vestments to represent the blood of Jesus, limped up the central aisle to take his place for an early night prayer service. Francis, 85, has been affected by a knee ligament drawback.
Often on the Good Friday basilica service on the Vatican, the pontiff would prostrate himself in prayer. However this time Francis, hobbled by ache for weeks, did not achieve this.
Francis dispatched his official almsgiver, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, to Kyiv to steer a Good Friday procession within the capital metropolis of war-ravaged Ukraine. Italian Rai state TV stated Krajewski on Friday visited two of Ukraine’s hardest-hit places, Bucha and Borodyanka, each in ruins. At one level, Krajewski prayed over a number of the our bodies and leaned over to the touch one, partially lined, physique.
All through his papacy, Francis has repeatedly denounced armaments collected by nations as unjustified. In an interview broadcast on Italian state TV on Friday, the pope elaborated on his view.
“I perceive these governments that purchase arms, I perceive them. I don’t justify them, however I perceive them, as a result of we’ve to defend ourselves,” Francis stated. However, he added: “If there have been a sample of peace, this may not be crucial. However we dwell with this diabolical sample of killing each other out of the need for energy, the need for safety, the need for a lot of issues.”
Good Friday is among the essential days for Christians throughout Holy Week, which culminates in Easter, on Sunday.
In Jerusalem, the place tens of 1000’s of devoted historically converge on the Israeli metropolis’s Previous Metropolis to go to sacred websites throughout Holy Week, Palestinians and Israeli police clashed on Friday on the Al-Aqsa mosque. The location is sacred to Jews and Muslims. This yr, Ramadan coincides with Passover, in addition to Holy Week.
Medics in Jerusalem stated that greater than 150 Palestinians have been injured, in probably the most critical violence on the web site in almost a yr.
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John Leicester and Oleg Cetinic contributed from Paris.