Pope Francis during the April 14th, 2017 Via Crucis procession.

Pope Francis celebrated the somber Via Crucis procession, the way of the cross, in front of Rome’s famous Colosseum on April 14^th, 2017.  On hand to greet him was Rome’s mayor, Virginia Raggi.

Given the heightened security and recent terrorist attacks around the world the crowd this year was slightly smaller than some years ago.