Stations of Cross draw parallels with daily life

Not surprisingly, a whole gamut of social issues, ranging from the economic crisis through to clandestine immigration, featured in last night's meditations during the traditional Good Friday Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) ceremony, presided over by Pope Francis in the Colosseum.

Yesterday's services reflected much of the teaching and concerns so forcefully outlined by Pope Francis over the last 12 months. The meditations for the 14 Stations of the Cross were written by Archbishop Giancarlo Maria Bregantini of Campobasso, head of the justice and peace commission of the Italian bishops conference, who calls for excommunication of mafiosi .

Throughout his meditations, Archbishop Bregantini drew parallels between the Lord’s suffering on the cross and problems afflicting contemporary man. In the first station, he likened Pontius Pilate’s washing of his hands over Jesus as similar to superficial judgments which generate racial prejudice.

At the second station, he compared the injustices suffered by Christ to those produced by today’s economic crisis, “with its grave social consequences – unemployment, redundancy, dismissals, wealth which governs rather than serves, financial speculation, the suicides of businessmen, corruption and usury . . .”

The meditation for the third station suggested the fragility of Jesus as he struggled to carry his cross should remind Christians of their own fragility. In the fourth, the suffering of Mary was likened to modern mothers.

The elderly, women, prisoners and "victims" featured in other meditations. This evening, the pope will preside over the Easter Vigil Mass. Tomorrow, he says Mass in the Basilica of St Peter's prior to his midday " Urbi et Orbi " blessing.