The meditations, which will take place on April 15 at 9:15 pm, will be based on previously chosen themes.

Newsroom (08/04/2022 13:40, Gaudium Press) The director of the Holy See’s press office, Matteo Bruni, announced on April 7th, that the texts of the meditations and prayers for this year’s Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at the Colosseum will be prepared by families linked to Catholic volunteer and assistance communities and associations.

Five years of the apostolic exhortation ‘Amoris Laetitia

According to Vatican officials, this decision came from Pope Francis himself because of the year dedicated to the family. In 2022, five years of the apostolic exhortation ‘Amoris Laetitia’ will be celebrated. The meditations, which will take place on April 15 at 9:15 pm, will be based on previously chosen themes.

After two consecutive years without being held, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Way of the Cross on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome will be held again, with Pope Francis in attendance. Families will be responsible for carrying the cross between one station and another.

Origin of the Tradition of praying the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum

Although the first Way of the Cross at the Colosseum was celebrated in 1750 by Pope Benedict XIV, the tradition was started in 1965 by Pope Paul VI. Since then, every Pontiff has celebrated the Way of the Cross in front of this famous historical monument.

Each year the Stations of the Cross prayed by the Pope at the Colosseum are written by someone or some group chosen by the Pontiff himself, who brings to the meditation current topics and unites them with the contemplation of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. (EPC)

Compiled by Dominic Joseph