Way of Cross draws parallels to Christ's passion, suffering of poor

Published: 2004-04-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Every year Pope John Paul II leads millions of people around the world in a sober meditation on Christ's passion during a Good Friday service at Rome's Colosseum. The April 9 Way of the Cross liturgy was to be broadcast by more than 50 television stations in more than 35 countries. The torch-lit Colosseum, which evokes the martyrdom of early Christians under persecution, underlines the focus of the pope's Way of the Cross: Believers are urged not only to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death, but also to recognize how Christ's suffering continues in the suffering of the poor and the oppressed. Good Friday 2004 marked the 30th year that the event was available by satellite for worldwide television broadcast, thanks to funding by the U.S.-based Knights of Columbus.

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