egyptian family carry cross in easter ritual as pope deplores global unrest
Tuesday 15 July 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Egyptian family carry cross in Easter ritual as pope deplores global unrest

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleEgyptian family carry cross in Easter ritual as pope deplores global unrest

Pope Francis leads the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession during Good Friday celebrations
Cairo - Arab Today

Pope Francis deplored the suffering of migrants, victims of racism and persecuted Christians as some 20,000 worshippers gathered at Rome’s Colosseum to hear his Good Friday prayer.

This year an Egyptian couple and their three young daughters carried a large cross for part of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession, descending through the Colosseum and then outside into the crowd.

“Christ, our only savior, we turn towards you this year with eyes lowered in shame,” the pope told the crowds outside the former gladiators’ battleground, their faces lit by candlelight.

“Shame for all the images of devastation, destruction and shipwrecks which have become ordinary in our lives,” Francis said in an apparent reference to Mediterranean migrant disasters that have left at least 590 people feared people dead this year.

The pope also spoke of the child abuse scandals that have rocked Catholicism in recent years, expressing “shame for all the times when bishops, priests and the religious have scandalized and hurt” the Church.

“Shame for the innocent blood, spilt daily, of women, children, migrants, people persecuted for the color of their skin or for their social or ethnic group -- or for their faith in you,” he said.

The Easter holy week commemorating the last days of Jesus’s life had a bloody beginning last Sunday with attacks claimed by the Islamic State group on two Coptic churches in Egypt that left 45 people dead.
Egyptian Copts observed a solemn Good Friday with prayers and fasting, as the community reeled from the bombings. Despite concerns over security, Francis is planning to go ahead with a visit to the country later this month.

In Rome, security was tight for the night-time ceremony, with road blocks and metal detectors in place as worshippers gathered to hear the leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Three thousand officers were deployed to protect the Colosseum.

Worshippers from Portugal and Colombia -- two countries the pontiff is set to visit in May and September respectively -- also took part in the procession, taking turns to carry the cross along with two Chinese Christians.

Francis, 80, sat under his traditional red canopy next to a large cross lit with torchlight for the ceremony, which for the first time included a meditation written by a secular woman, French professor Anne-Marie Pelletier.

Good Friday is the second of four important days in the Christian calendar beginning with Maundy Thursday and culminating in Easter Sunday, which commemorates Christ’s resurrection.

On Saturday, the pontiff will take part in an evening Easter vigil in St Peter’s Basilica, before celebrating Easter mass on Sunday and pronouncing the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to Rome and the world.

source: Alarabiya

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

egyptian family carry cross in easter ritual as pope deplores global unrest egyptian family carry cross in easter ritual as pope deplores global unrest

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 21:49 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Trump to tell Erdogan of concern over Syria offensive

GMT 08:12 2017 Friday ,15 December

Bahrain leaders congratulated on national days

GMT 02:11 2017 Saturday ,09 September

US formally requests UN vote Monday on N. Korea

GMT 15:31 2017 Monday ,30 January

ONCF Reveals Statistics of 2016 and Budget of 2017

GMT 12:05 2016 Friday ,07 October

A US deal with Deutsche Bank 'better than trial'

GMT 09:53 2018 Monday ,01 January

Man City winning run ends in draw

GMT 11:54 2017 Thursday ,28 December

IS claims Kabul bombings

GMT 05:56 2015 Wednesday ,16 September

High time for Egypt to join strong economic blocs

GMT 16:43 2011 Friday ,08 July

Monaco\'s princess in South African charity

GMT 20:52 2016 Tuesday ,03 May

Leicester City wins English Premiership

GMT 04:58 2015 Tuesday ,22 September

Romo could miss half NFL season with shoulder injury

GMT 01:09 2017 Thursday ,16 February

Australian senator to form new conservative party

GMT 13:05 2016 Thursday ,31 March

Boko Haram Kill 6 Soldiers in Southeast Niger

GMT 15:53 2014 Thursday ,18 September

10 tips to have a successful marriage for men

GMT 01:44 2016 Thursday ,08 December

Int'l cooperation minister leaves for Jordan
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle