The Pope of the Catholic Church has been under question for his health after the Vatican announced he will not attend the Stations of the Cross ceremony on Good Friday.
The 87-year-old Pope was scheduled to deliver a homily during the Easter Vigil at St Peter’s Basilica in front of an estimated 6,000 people from around the world.
The Vatican confirmed that he would attend the service but a statement said he will instead spend the Easter weekend at the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence due to his “health”.
The statement said: “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.”
The Pope delivered a ten-minute homily during the Easter Vigil which focused on the “walls of selfishness and indifference” in the world and lamented “all the aspirations for peace shattered by the cruelty of hatred and the ferocity of war”.
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He also spoke to eight adults who will be baptised during the service.
The Vatican had previously confirmed that the Pope would attend the ceremony.
The last-minute decision and the lack of detail in the statement added to doubts about his health and questions as to how long he can continue to lead the Catholic Church.
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