Pope Leo XIV leads a torch-lit Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum, focusing on peace in the Middle East ahead of his first Easter Mass as pontiff.

ROME: Pope Leo XIV led a poignant torch-lit Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum on Friday. The ceremony, attended by 30,000 people, set a reflective tone ahead of his first Easter as pontiff.

The new pope has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East amid ongoing conflict. He directly urged US President Donald Trump this week to find an “off-ramp” from the violence.

Among the attendees was Sarah, a 61-year-old Palestinian Catholic who pleaded for peace in the Holy Land. “People like you and me listen, but the governments don’t,” she told AFP.

Others, like Lebanese attendee Geryes Bejjani, came to carry a message of peace despite travel difficulties. He called the pope “the only purely selfless political leader” with no hidden agenda.

The pope personally carried a large wooden cross through all 14 stations, retracing Christ’s path. This marked a return to a tradition observed by his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Attendee Augustin Ancel from Paris said the pope carrying the cross was “a powerful message” and “a form of humility”. For some, like Ines Duplessis from Paris, the appeals remained largely symbolic amid complex political interests.

Pope Leo XIV will preside over Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. His Urbi et Orbi blessing is especially anticipated this year given the global tensions.

 The Sun Malaysia