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Pope Francis: "We must learn from the example of Jesus and the Gospel"
Photo: Andreas Solaro / dpa
Pope Francis celebrated the mass for the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday.
In front of around 200 believers, nuns, priests and cardinals who were present, the head of the Catholic Church traditionally lay flat for minutes on the floor in front of the altar in St. Peter's Basilica.
As a year before, only a limited number of people were allowed in because of the corona pandemic.
In the sermon, the preacher of the Pontifical House, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, said the fraternity of the Catholic Church was wounded.
The 84-year-old explained that it was torn apart by the division of the individual churches.
These divisions that polarized Catholics stemmed from political ideologies.
"We must learn from the example of Jesus and the gospel," he said.
Everyone would have to conduct a conscience test with regard to this.
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St. Peter's Basilica: Pope Francis lies down on the ground in prayer
Photo: Andreas Solaro / dpa
In the evening, Francis still faces the Way of the Cross in front of St. Peter's Basilica.
As in the previous year, this celebration could not take place at the Colosseum in Rome, unlike usual.
The way of the cross traditionally depicts the way from Jesus to death on the cross and to the grave.
This year children and young people wrote texts and painted pictures for it.
For devout Christians, Easter is the most important religious festival.
They then celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ - after the commemoration of the crucifixion on Good Friday.
The Pope will celebrate a devotion on Easter Vigil on Saturday evening in St. Peter's Basilica.
This is followed by Easter mass on Sunday and the blessing "Urbi et orbi" ("For the city and the world").
Due to the corona pandemic, particularly strict restrictions apply in Italy over Easter.
The Pope and many other residents of the Vatican are vaccinated against Corona.
wit / dpa