Crucis

Faithful hold candles during a Via Crucis torchlight procession in Rome.

But for the first time since becoming pope in 2013, he did miss the Via Crucis ceremony on the evening of Good Friday at Rome's Colosseum, which commemorates the final hours in the life of Jesus.

It will be the first time that Francis has missed the Good Friday Via Crucis at Rome’s Colosseum since he became pope, but the news came as little surprise as winterlike temperatures returned to Italy this week.

It is the first time the pope will not preside at the "Via Crucis" service at Rome's Colosseum since he was elected in 2013.

In 2005 for the Good Friday Via Crucis procession at Rome’s Colosseum, Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, “How much filth there is in the church, especially among those who, in the priesthood, are supposed to belong totally” to Christ.