A procession honoring the Stations of the Cross took place in front of the Colosseum in Rome, marking the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s final hours. The event unfolded along the Way of the Cross, representing the journey from Jesus’s condemnation to his crucifixion and burial. The procession began at the Colosseum and concluded on Palatine Hill.
At each of the fourteen stations, readings were delivered by Father Francesco Patton, who served as custodian of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. Patton’s readings focused on the practical application of faith, hope, and love. In the introduction to the meditations, Patton stated, “The Way of the Cross is not for those who live a blameless or merely abstractly collected life.
It is a path for those who know that faith, hope and love must be realized in the real world.”
This year’s event incorporated readings from Saint Francis of Assisi, coinciding with the eight-hundredth anniversary of his passing. The Stations of the Cross readings were delivered at each station throughout the procession.
