Good Friday

The Latest

Tens of thousands gather outside of the Colosseum in Rome for the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross, on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.

Pope Francis skips Via Crucis in Rome while tens of thousands pray his meditations

Mar 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

In an apparent last-minute decision, Pope Francis skipped the Way of the Cross ceremony held at Rome’s Colosseum on Friday... Read more

Pope Francis arrives at the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter's Basilica on Good Friday on April 7, 2023.

What are the Good Friday Reproaches?

Mar 29, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as “Popule Meus” (“My people”), coming from the opening... Read more

Pope Francis at the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on April 8, 2023.

Here is Pope Francis’ schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2024 at the Vatican

Feb 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The schedule includes five papal liturgies, Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum, and other traditions to mark the most... Read more

The Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 7, 2023.

Full text: Cardinal Cantalamessa’s homily at the Vatican’s Good Friday 2023 liturgy

Apr 7, 2023

By CNA Staff

"For two thousand years, the Church has announced and celebrated, on this day, the death of the Son of God... Read more

Pope Francis kisses the crucifix at the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica on April 7, 2023.

Good Friday at the Vatican: Papal preacher warns against relativism and ‘vortex of nihilism’

Apr 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Cantalamessa compared Friedrich Nietzsche’s words “God is dead” with the Catholic Church’s proclamation of the death of Christ on... Read more

Pope Francis prays the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Good Friday, April 14, 2017.

Vatican: Pope Francis will not attend Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum due to cold weather

Apr 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope’s canceled Good Friday appearance comes one week after he was hospitalized for three nights in Rome’s Gemelli hospital,... Read more

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5 ways to solemnly celebrate Good Friday

Apr 7, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

As the Church mourns, Catholics are also called to solemnly observe this holy day. Read more

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Catholics urged to be generous to Good Friday collection to benefit the Holy Land

Mar 24, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, invited Catholics to a donate as an act of... Read more

Irina, from Ukraine, and Albina, from Russia, hold the cross at Rome’s Colosseum, April 15, 2022.

Vatican adapts Good Friday Way of the Cross after outcry in Ukraine

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

The original plan was strongly criticized by Ukrainian Catholic leaders. Read more

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa preaches at the Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, April 15, 2022.

Papal preacher on Good Friday 2022: From Pilate to the internet age, people have turned their backs on Jesus

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa was preaching in St. Peter’s Basilica in the presence of Pope Francis. Read more

Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa preaches at the Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, April 15, 2022.

Full text: Cardinal Cantalamessa’s homily at the Vatican’s Good Friday 2022 liturgy

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘This year we celebrate Easter not to the joyful sound of bells, but with the noise in the ears of... Read more

Pope Francis is interviewed by Lorena Bianchetti at the Vatican.

Good Friday 2022: Pope Francis says ‘world has chosen the path of Cain’

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘War is everywhere,’ he told interviewer Lorena Bianchetti. Read more

Pilgrims gather for the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome on Good Friday, April 3, 2015.

Full text: Good Friday 2022 Way of the Cross led by Pope Francis

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

Here is the full text of the Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum led by Pope Francis. Read more

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Eastern Churches, speaks to EWTN.

How the Good Friday Holy Land collection unites Catholics with the places of Christ’s Passion

Apr 14, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Sandri said: ‘It is truly a providential opportunity for the whole Catholic Church to take advantage of this collection.’ Read more

Photo illustration.

Play ball! But go for the peanuts, skip the bratwurst at Good Friday opener

Apr 13, 2022

By Joe Bukuras, Shannon Mullen

Sorry, Cleveland baseball fans (the Catholic ones, anyway), there is no dispensation from fasting and abstaining because of the Guardians’... Read more

Pope Francis prays the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Good Friday, April 14, 2017.

Ukrainian and Russian families to carry cross at pope’s Good Friday Via Crucis

Apr 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The two families will carry a wooden cross together for the 13th station in the Colosseum. Read more

Pope Francis venerates the Cross on Good Friday in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican invites Catholics to pray for peace in Good Friday liturgy

Mar 25, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican’s liturgy office said it would not be issuing COVID-19 guidelines for Holy Week liturgies this year. Read more

Crucifix inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Catholics urged to give with ‘new vigor’ to Good Friday Holy Land collection

Mar 24, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Sandri said ‘families have suffered beyond measure’ amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square, April 14, 2019.

Pope Francis’ schedule for Holy Week 2022 at the Vatican unveiled

Mar 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope will once again preside over the Via Crucis at the Colosseum on Good Friday. Read more

Pope Francis presides at the Stations of the Cross outside St. Peter's Basilica, April 2, 2021.

Pope Francis leads Via Crucis seen through the eyes of children

Apr 2, 2021

Pope Francis led the Way of the Cross, featuring meditations prepared by children, at the Vatican on Good Friday evening. Read more