Pope's 'Way of the Cross' dedicated to persecuted Catholics

(March 22, 2008) Thousands of faithful braved a driving rain on Good Friday to join Pope Benedict XVI at Rome’s famed landmark, the Colosseum, to meditate on the persecution of Catholics across the world, especially in China. Pope Benedict who has made moves to close the rift with China, presided over the traditional Way of the Cross procession around the ancient ruins of the Colosseum commemorating Christ's crucifixion and death. Attended by tens of thousands of people, the solemn, night-time ceremony is one of the main services ahead of Easter - the climax of the Christian faith and liturgical calendar.
“We find ourselves united on this day, at this hour, and in this place, which reminds us about your so many servants who, centuries ago, amid the roars of hungry lions and the shouts of the amused crowd, let themselves be ripped apart and fatally attacked for loyalty to your name,” the Holy Father prayed to God at the start of the procession. He was referring to systematic martyrdom of many Christians during the first years of church under the Roman Empire. "Colosseums have multiplied down the centuries, wherever our brothers and sisters, in different parts of the world, continue to be harshly persecuted today," the Pope added.
As planned, the Pope was to carry the cross for the final minutes of the more than hour-long procession. But Vatican officials said that because of the storm, it was decided that the Pope, who turns 81 next month and has two more days of strenuous ceremonies in the days ahead to mark Easter, should stay dry under a canopy erected on the Palatine Hill overlooking the Colosseum. Last year on Good Friday, Benedict carried the cross briefly at the start and finish of the procession. Others who carried the cross on Friday were an African nun from Burkina Faso, a family from Rome, a woman on a wheelchair, two friars from the Custody of the Holy Land and a Chinese man and woman.
Good Friday’s Way of the Cross ceremony was broadcast on television to 39 countries. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun of Hong Kong who was asked by Pope Benedict to write the meditations for this year, paid tribute to those "living martyrs" who suffer for their faith. "In many parts of the world, the Church is undergoing the dark hour of persecution," Cardinal Zen wrote in one of the meditations. “Illuminate the conscience of authorities so that they will recognize the innocence of followers,” read one prayer recited during the procession. “Give them the courage to respect religious freedom.”
China forced its Roman Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, two years after the Communist Party overran the country. Worship is allowed only in officially state-sanctioned churches, which appoint their own bishops in defiance of the Pope. Millions of Chinese belong to unofficial congregations faithful to the Pope, and they risk harassment by Chinese authorities. Some clergy have been jailed in China.
At the end of the Way of the Cross the Pope offered a brief reflection saying Good Friday “ends in the silence of meditation and prayer.” “Can one remain indifferent before the death of the son of God?” “Today let us turn our eyes, often distracted by dispersive and ephemeral earthly interests, towards Christ; let us stop to contemplate his cross, source of life and school of justice and peace, universal heritage for forgiveness and peace, permanent proof of a sacrificial and infinite love that led God to become man, vulnerable like us till he died crucified.”
“Through the cross’ painful journey,” said the Pope, “men in every era, reconciled and redeemed by the blood of Christ, have become God’s friends, sons of the celestial Father. Friend, Jesus called Judas, when he addressed him in a last dramatic appeal to conversion. Friend, he calls each one of us, because he is a true friend to all of us. Sadly, we cannot always perceive the depth of God’s unbound love for us. For him, no differences of race and culture exist. Jesus Christ died to release the whole of humanity from the ignorance of God, and the enslavement to sin. Brothers and sisters, the cross makes us, but let us ask ourselves at this moment what have we done for this gift, what have we done with the revelation of God’s face in Christ, with the revelation of God’s love that overcomes hatred.”
“Many are those who in our age do not know God, who cannot find him in the crucified Christ. Many are those who wish to seek freedom by excluding God; there are many who believe that they do not need God. After experiencing Jesus’ passion tonight, let his sacrifice on the cross concern us, let us let him unsettle our human certainties; let us open our heart to him; Jesus is the truth that makes us free to love; let us not fear. Dying, the Lord destroyed the old sin and saved the sinners, that is all of us.” “On the cross the Lord gave us back the dignity that belongs to us.”
At the end of the procession, the Vicar of Rome diocese, Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini handed Pope Benedict the tall, slender, lightweight cross. The Pope gripped the cross briefly. Then, in a strong voice, he blessed the crowd of thousands being drenched by the rain and buffeted by gusty winds and told them: “Thank you for being patient under the rain. Happy Easter to you.”
Earlier in the day, the pontiff presided over a long solemn Good Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica. Late Saturday night, he is scheduled to celebrate Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, and, on Sunday morning, he leads an expected crowd of tens of thousands of faithful in Mass in St. Peter's Square, at the end of which he will deliver the special "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) Easter blessing and message.