"Pope Francis Prioritizes Health, Skips Good Friday Procession"

Pope Francis canceled his attendance at the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum to preserve his health, as he prepares for Easter week engagements. The 87-year-old pontiff, who has been using a cane or wheelchair due to a knee ailment, suffers from recurring bronchitis and influenza. His absence from the procession, which he followed remotely from the Vatican, has raised concerns about his declining strength. Despite this, he has been actively involved in Easter week activities, including writing meditations for the Via Crucis and performing the foot-washing ritual at a women's prison in Rome.