The Pope on Saturday presided in front of about 6,000 people from around the world, giving a 10-minute homily in Italian, speaking without any undue difficulty and condemning “the walls of selfishness and indifference” in the world.
At the end of the two-and-a-half-hour service he showed little sign of fatigue, taking time to greet and bless some of the worshippers.was to deliver the homily and then baptise eight adults.
On Easter Sunday, the pontiff will hold a mass and his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing that is transmitted around the globe.
In a brief statement on Friday, the Vatican had said that “to preserve his health ahead of tomorrow’s vigil and the Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis will this evening follow the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta residence [where he lives]”.
The sudden decision – the Pope’s wheelchair was already in place for the procession – and the lack of detail in the statement has added to doubts about his health, and questions as to how long he can continue to lead the Church and its 1.3 billion followers.
“The Via Crucis of a fragile Pope” was the Saturday headline in La Stampa, while Il Messaggero spoke of a “renunciation of Francis”.
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