Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter

Pope Francis did not attend the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum as expected. He was scheduled to preside over the Via Crucis, or Way of the Cross, but instead chose to follow the event from the Vatican. This unexpected absence may renew concerns about the pope's health, as Good Friday leads to Easter, the most significant and joyous date in the Church's liturgical calendar. The reasons for Francis' decision to skip the procession have not been disclosed by the Vatican.