01:42Italy: Pope Francis highlights plight of migrants in Good Friday sermon
Pope Francis used his Good Friday sermon to highlight the plight of migrants, as he spoke from a platform on the Palatine Hill, while he presided over the traditional 'Ways of the Cross' service at Rome's Colosseum.
The meditations on the 14 stations of the cross, which recalls the crucifixion of Jesus, were written by Eugenia Bonetti, an 80-year-old Italian nun who works with victims of human trafficking.
In his concluding prayer, Francis spoke of "the cross of migrants, who find doors closed because of fear and hearts hardened by political calculations."
He also appeared to allude to the numerous instances of clerical sexual abuse that have come to light in recent years referring to "the cross of the little ones, wounded in their innocence and in their purity."
Christians celebrate Good Friday, the first Friday before Easter, as the date of Jesus Christ's crucifixion by the Roman authorities. According to scripture Christ was resurrected on Easter Sunday, and through his death, burial, and return delivered his followers from sin.
01:42Pope Francis used his Good Friday sermon to highlight the plight of migrants, as he spoke from a platform on the Palatine Hill, while he presided over the traditional 'Ways of the Cross' service at Rome's Colosseum.
The meditations on the 14 stations of the cross, which recalls the crucifixion of Jesus, were written by Eugenia Bonetti, an 80-year-old Italian nun who works with victims of human trafficking.
In his concluding prayer, Francis spoke of "the cross of migrants, who find doors closed because of fear and hearts hardened by political calculations."
He also appeared to allude to the numerous instances of clerical sexual abuse that have come to light in recent years referring to "the cross of the little ones, wounded in their innocence and in their purity."
Christians celebrate Good Friday, the first Friday before Easter, as the date of Jesus Christ's crucifixion by the Roman authorities. According to scripture Christ was resurrected on Easter Sunday, and through his death, burial, and return delivered his followers from sin.