CNN
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Pope Francis pulled out of a Good Friday service on the final minute, the Vatican stated, “to protect his well being” forward of main Easter occasions over the weekend.
The 87-year-old pontiff’s well-being has been watched carefully following an operation on his stomach final 12 months.
In latest weeks Francis has had aides learn out a number of of his speeches as he battles bouts of bronchitis, chilly and flu, and he has been in hospital for exams.
Simply earlier than the Stations of the Cross service was attributable to begin at Rome’s Colosseum on Friday night, the Vatican introduced Francis would comply with it from his residence as a substitute of attending in particular person.
Officers stated the pontiff had presided over the Celebration of the Ardour of the Lord at St Peter’s Basilica earlier within the day.
The stations mark numerous phases of Jesus Christ’s struggling and dying, with the pope in search of to use the biblical account to up to date considerations.
Conflict, on-line hatred and the exploitation of girls are among the many themes tackled by Pope Francis in his Good Friday meditations this 12 months.
In them, he displays on the judgment of the group watching the crucifixion, linking it to on-line hatred.
“All it takes is a keyboard to spew insults and condemnation,” the pope writes, whereas interesting for an finish to “hasty judgment, gossip, and violent and offensive phrases.”
The pope additionally laments in his reflections the “insanity” and “trauma” of conflict, and pledges solidarity with these “demeaned by the conceitedness, injustice and energy of those that exploit the poor amid common indifference.”
Throughout his meditations Francis additionally makes particular point out of the ladies who accompanied and helped Jesus earlier than the crucifixion.
“Assist us to acknowledge the dignity of these ladies who remained devoted and stood by you in your ardour, and those that in our personal day are exploited and endure injustice and indignity,” the pope stated.