Pope presides over rainy Good Friday procession
ROME (AP) - March 21, 2008 The pope wore a long white coat as he stood sheltered from the
cold, pelting rain under a canopy erected on the Palatine Hill
overlooking the Colosseum.
At the end of the procession, Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini
handed 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."
The pope was supposed to carry the cross for the final minutes
of the more than hour-long procession, taking his turn after a
young woman and a young priest from China walked with the symbol of
Jesus' crucifixion.
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 the canopy.
There was no noticeable increase of security during or before
the procession. Earlier in the week, Osama bin Laden accused the
pope of playing a role in a worldwide campaign against Islam, an
accusation the Vatican described as baseless.
Last year on Good Friday, Benedict carried the cross briefly at
the start and finish of the procession.
"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," Benedict 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.
The pope lamented that "even today our brothers, in various
parts of the world, are still harshly persecuted," and he said the
procession was being undertaken in solidarity with persecuted
Catholics.
The pontiff, who has been dedicating much of his papacy to the
problems of Catholics in China, asked Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen
to compose the meditations which are read aloud during procession.
Zen has said the Vatican made sure there was nothing
"dangerous" in the meditations that might offend Beijing.
Benedict is eager for the Vatican and China's Communist government
to establish diplomatic ties.
In one of the meditations, Zen laments the persecution of
Catholics in many parts of the world, but he does not mention China
by name.
"Illuminate the conscience of authorities so that they will
recognize the innocence of (God's) 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, shortly after the Communist Party took power. Worship is
allowed only in officially state-sanctioned churches, which
recognize the pope as a spiritual leader but appoint their own
bishops in defiance of the Vatican.
Millions of Chinese belong to unofficial congregations, and they
risk harassment by Chinese authorities. Some clergy have been
jailed in China.
Earlier in the day, the pontiff presided over a long solemn Good
Friday service in St. Peter's Basilica.
Late Saturday night, Benedict 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.