The head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff in over sixty years to personally carry the wooden cross through all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) during Friday night’s solemn service at the Roman Colosseum.

The 70-year-old Pope, who was elected in May 2025 as the first American-born pontiff, bypassed the traditional practice of having different groups of pilgrims carry the cross. Instead, he hoisted the 5-foot-tall wooden crucifix himself, leading the procession from the interior of the ancient amphitheater to the Palatine Hill. A move that has stunned and inspired millions of faithful around the globe.

The decision to carry the cross for the duration of the hour-long service was not merely a physical feat, but a deeply symbolic message intended for a world currently gripped by conflict.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week, the Pope made his intentions known.

He stated, “I think it will be an important sign because of what the pope represents… a spiritual leader in the world today, and for this voice, that everyone wants to hear, that says Christ still suffers. I carry all of this suffering in my prayer.”

During the service, the meditations, which focus on the final hours of Jesus’s life, referenced modern-day struggles. One specific meditation at the first station reminded those in power that they “will have to answer to God for how they exercise their authority, a line many analysts see as a direct call for peace in ongoing global wars.

For decades, the Via Crucis has seen the cross handed off between families, students, and workers from various nations. While previous popes like John Paul II and Benedict XVI carried the cross for a few stations in their younger years, and Pope Francis often presided from a seated position due to health concerns, Leo XIV’s stamina marks a significant shift.

The Pope’s ability to complete the steep climb up the Palatine Hill stairs while carrying the cross is attributed to his active lifestyle. A former amateur tennis player and swimmer from Chicago, Leo XIV has maintained a rigorous fitness routine even after his elevation to the papacy.

The event, broadcast live by CNN and Vatican Media, drew tens of thousands of pilgrims to the streets of Rome. Many remained in hushed silence as the torch-lit procession moved through the ruins, lit by the glow of thousands of small candles held by the crowd.

This historic act follows a morning of intense diplomacy. According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo spent Friday morning on the telephone with leaders from Israel and Ukraine, urging for diplomatic solutions and humanitarian aid.

The Good Friday service is the penultimate event of Holy Week. Pope Leo is expected to preside over the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening before delivering the highly anticipated Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) blessing on Easter Sunday. (Guardian)