Father Francesco Patton, author of the meditations for the Pope's Good Friday 'Via Crucis' at the Colosseum in Rome, notes that even today, many people are living a Way of the Cross.

“In the reflections and prayers, the inspiration from current reality and from concrete people is evident,” particularly from the sufferings of Christians in the Middle East due to the war.

In this way, Father Francesco Patton of the Order of Friars Minor, summarized the origin of the meditations written for the Way of the Cross that will be presided over by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Colosseum on Good Friday evening.

In the following interview with Vatican News, Fr. Patton, who served as the Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 until June 2025, explained how the Pope’s choice coincided with the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.

At the Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV invites Priests, Bishops, and all Christians to embrace their challenges with trust in God and “spread the fragrance of Christ where the stench of death reigns.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV presided at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday in St. Peter’s Basilica, joined by hundreds of bishops and priests who renewed the promises they made at their ordination.

In his first Homily for the Chrism Mass as the Bishop of Rome, the Pope reflected on the mission to which God calls every Christian, which he said is the very same mission as that of Jesus.

“Each of us takes part in it according to our own vocation in a deeply personal obedience to the voice of the Spirit, yet never without others, never neglecting or breaking communion!” he said.

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 

Dear brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace. 

We are in the place where a stone once sealed death. And yet today we are here to celebrate life. There is a tension we cannot ignore: outside, the doors of the Holy Sepulchre are closed. War has turned this place into a refuge, an “inside” cut off from an “outside” weighed down by fear and strain. We are here as within a womb of peace, while the world around us is being torn apart, and we wish we could change all of this. 

And yet, here and now, the Word of God places before us a gesture that overturns all our human ways of thinking. 

In the Gospel according to John, we read: “He rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, girded himself” (Jn 13:4). That verb – “to gird oneself” – echoes throughout Scripture. It is the same verb found in the Book of Exodus, when the Lord gives instructions for the Passover: “This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girded, sandals on your feet, and your staff in hand; you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover” (Ex 12:11)… 

During the Mass "in Coena Domini" on Holy Thursday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will wash the feet of twelve Priests - eleven of whom he ordained last year.

On Holy Thursday, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV is set to wash the feet of twelve Priests during the Mass in Coena Domini. The Liturgy will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

The Diocese of Rome issued a statement announcing the names of the 12 Priests: Fr. Andrea Alessi, Fr. Gabriele Di Menno Di Bucchianico, Fr. Renzo Chiesa, Fr. Francesco Melone, Fr. Clody Merfalen, Fr. Federico Pelosio, Fr. Marco Petrolo, Fr. Pietro Hieu Nguyen Huai, Fr. Matteo Renzi, Fr. Giuseppe Terranova, Fr. Simone Troilo, and Fr. Enrico Maria Trusiani.

On Wednesday morning, April 1, 2026, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), paid an official visit to the His Excellency President of the Republic of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun. His Holiness was accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Prelate of Lebanon, and His Grace Bishop Dajad Ashekian, Chancellor of the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Following the meeting, His Holiness addressed the press, stating:

We visited His Excellency President General Joseph Aoun both on behalf of our community and personally, to express our full solidarity with him and with the government in their efforts and positions.”

“We firmly believe that safeguarding Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, strengthening the authority of the State, ensuring the presence of the Lebanese army across all Lebanese regions, and preserving national unity—especially under the current critical circumstances—are urgent priorities. We believe this reflects the will of all Lebanese. It is crucial to avoid rhetoric that fuels internal divisions and instead focus on uniting around our nation’s higher, shared interests…

The Holy Shroud of Turin passed through the Middle East, reveals new DNA research in the scientific article authored by Dr. Gianni Barcaccia, Professor of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Padua, along with other researchers. The scientists confirm the presence of a genome predominantly from the Middle East and show that microorganisms thriving in extremely saline environments, such as the Dead Sea, were detected.

New research on DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggests the likelihood that the cloth passed through the Middle East. A scientific article, soon to be published and already available in pre-print, reports the results of new investigations conducted on material from the Shroud provided by Professor Pier Luigi Baima Bollone, a renowned Professor of Forensic Medicine who, in the 1980s, claimed to have identified the presence of human blood of the AB group on the Shroud.

During his weekly General Audience, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV highlights the important role that lay people play in the Church’s mission in bearing witness to the Gospel, as he continues his reflection on the conciliar document "Lumen gentium."

Lay people’s contribution, service and witness is essential to building a Church that reaches out to all and spreads the Gospel, along with justice, charity and peace, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV said during the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 1, 2026.

“The vast field of the lay apostolate is not confined to the Church, but extends to the world,” Pope Leo underlined.

“The Church is present wherever her children profess and bear witness to the Gospel: in the workplace, in civil society and in all human relationships, wherever they, through their choices, show the beauty of Christian life, which foretells here and now the justice and peace that will be accomplished in the Kingdom of God.”

Holy Tuesday marks the Parable of the Ten Maidens, a call by Jesus to spiritual preparedness and faithful stewardship. On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, this parable was brought to life through a Special Service at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

Students from the Armenian Catholicosate, Holy See of Cilica, Sunday School, participated in the Ceremony, dressed in Church vestments and carrying lanterns, embodying the ten maidens of the Gospel. During the reading, the “wise” virgins held their candles burning brightly, a symbol of readiness and watchfulness, while the “foolish” ones let theirs go dark, a reminder of indifference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

On March 31, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), presided over an online meeting of the General Secretariat of the Holy Synod.

Their Eminences, members of the General Secretariat: Mor Justinus Boulos Safar, Patriarchal Vicar in Zahleh and Beqaa, Mor Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar in Germany, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Patriarchal Vicar in the Archdiocese of Eastern USA, Mor Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, Archbishop of Mosul, Kirkuk, Kurdistan and Environs, Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, and Mor Augeen Al-Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, participated in the meeting.

His Holiness opened the meeting with a prayer and then he discussed with their Eminences different topics related to our churches throughout the world.

In remarks to journalists, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV calls on world leaders to “come back to the table” and solve their problems through dialogue.

“I'm told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he's looking for an 'off-ramp'. Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created and that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Just days before Easter, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has renewed his appeal for peace in a world wounded by conflict and violence.

In remarks to journalists this evening, March 31, in Castel Gandolfo, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV addressed all world leaders, urging them: “Come back to the table, to dialogue. Let's look for solutions to problems, let's look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we're promoting, that peace - especially at Easter - might reign in our hearts."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday, 3 April, during the traditional Good Friday Liturgy commemorating the journey of Jesus to Golgotha. The meditations have been written by Franciscan Father Francesco Patton.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will preside over all fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum, carrying the Cross himself throughout the Liturgy in what will be his first Holy Friday celebration as Pope.

The meditations for this year’s ceremony have been entrusted to Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, who served as Custos of the Holy Land from 2016 to 2025. The Holy See Press Office announced that the texts will be published on Friday morning, around midday.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV releases his Prayer intention for the month of April, and invites Catholics to pray for Priests who are facing a personal crisis in their vocation.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics across the globe to join him in April in praying for Priests in crisis.

He released the monthly “Pray with the Pope” video on Tuesday, which is prepared by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

In his prayer, the Pope entrusted all Priests into the Father’s hands, especially those going through moments of crisis, “when loneliness weighs heavily, when doubt clouds their hearts, and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope.”

The Custody of the Holy Land Launches Another Appeal Ahead of the Good Friday Collection

The Custody of the Holy Land launches another appeal ahead of the Good Friday Collection to Christians around the world to “support hope by giving…and by fostering peace.”

As Holy Week begins, the Good Friday Collection remains at the forefront of people’s minds in the Holy Land. Fr. Francesco Ielpo, Custos of the Holy Land, made an appeal to Christians all around the world ahead of Good Friday in just a few days.

On that day, “as we contemplate the Crucified, we ask you to remember in your Prayers and in concrete acts of charity those who continue to bear witness to the Gospel in the places of our redemption. Your closeness, dear brothers and sisters, is a tangible sign of hope and peace.”

In July 1976, about fifty years ago, this touching story took place: His Eminence of blessed memory, Metropolitan Bakhomius of Beheira, Egypt, and Pentapolis, was residing in the temporary bishopric headquarters at Archangel Michael Church in Damanhur. He was about to get to the weekly servants meeting at 6 pm; however, it seemed that a certain problem occurred that made him upset. He went out and stood on the pavement of the building, facing the church, holding his staff, and waiting for the meeting time at six. A little girl named Marian, about six years old, approached him and stood before him saying: “You are beautiful and sweet as sugar.” He greeted her and smiled, and his expression changed and he entered the service meeting. He made the sermon topic be “The Value of a Word,” recounting this story and how a small child, with simple words, changed the mood, and how a word can have a great impact in the life of service…

The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations releases His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s schedule of liturgical events from April until July, including two international journeys and two ordinations.

The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations released His Holiness Pope Leo XIV’s calendar of events for the months of April through to July 2026. Please note that all times are in Rome time. 

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV welcomes Benedictine Monastic Communities in the Vatican, thanking them for the great good they do for the Church, and encourages them to continue performing their "work of God."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for the immense and hidden good that you do for the Church, through your offering, your unceasing Prayer, your service, and the witness of your lives. Continue this work, which is the 'work of God.'”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV gave this encouragement to three Communities of Benedictine Religious - the Monastic Community of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Subiaco, the Monastic Community of the Abbey of Saint Mary of the Mount in Cesena, and the Benedictine Nuns of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Bari - together with a group of Monks on Monday in the Vatican.

The Pope expressed his delight to meet with them a

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV makes three significant appointments: Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia, takes the place of Substitute for General Affairs Edgar Peña Parra, who becomes Apostolic Nuncio to Italy, succeeding Petar Rajič, who has been appointed Prefect of the Papal Household.

From Colombia to the Secretariat of State, from the Secretariat of State to the Nunciature in Italy, from the Nunciature in Italy to the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Today a round of appointments were announced within the Holy See.

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has chosen Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, who will turn 56 in July, to be the new Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, one of the most important and sensitive positions in the entire Vatican apparatus, effectively a kind of “Interior Minister” of the Vatican City State.

Jerusalem - Holy Monday, 30 March 2026

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody of the Holy Land hereby confirm that the matters concerning the Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities. In agreement with the [Israel Police], access for representatives of the Churches has been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

On the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), presided over the Opening of the Portals Ceremony, a Solemn and deeply revered Service held on the eve of Palm Sunday at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, the Armenian Catholicosate Holy See of Cilicia, Antelias - Lebanon. The Service was conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, who also delivered the Sermon.

The Opening of the Portals is one of the most spiritually significant ceremonies of the Armenian Church’s Liturgical calendar. During the Service, the faithful kneel and beseech God in prayer: “Open to us, O Lord, open to us, O Lord, open to us the door of mercy, that with repentance we may turn to You.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV decries the fact that many Christians in the Middle East will be unable to celebrate Holy Week rites, urging everyone to remember the many people who share in Christ's suffering as the Church contemplates the Mystery of the Lord's Passion.

"Precisely as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s Passion, we cannot forget those who today truly share in His suffering."

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV made this observation at the conclusion of his Palm Sunday Mass in the Vatican.

He drew the Church's attention to the plight of Christians in the Middle East, saying their "trial calls upon the conscience of all."