The Way of the Cross

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - Pope John Paul, whose illness has kept him in the Vatican, used a video link on Good Friday to join a traditional "Way of the Cross" service where one of the prayers spoke of the need to confront the "dirt in the Church."

It was the first time in his papacy, now in its 27th year, that the 84-year-old Pope has missed the "Via Crucis" procession around Rome's ancient Colosseum which commemorates the last hours in Christ's life.

The thousands of faithful, some with tears in their eyes, watched him on huge television screens outside the Colosseum while taking part in the candlelight service around the one of the most famous sites of antiquity.


Wearing his traditional white cassock, the Pope watched the service sitting in a chair in his private chapel in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace while aides sat in the pews behind him.

Television pictures showed the Pope only from behind as he was watching a live broadcast of the event, which lasted about 90 minutes. He did not speak and held up a small cross himself toward the end of the service.

In a message read for him by Rome Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope said he was "spiritually with you at the Colosseum, a place which evokes in me so many memories and emotions."

He added: "Even I offer up my sufferings, so that God's plan is fulfilled and so that his word spreads among the people. I am also close to those who, at this moment, are tried by sufferings. I pray for each one of them."