ROME — Pope Francis, publicly fighting a weekslong case of bronchitis, will appear at the Colosseum tonight for Good Friday's Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross.

 Instead of carrying the flaming cross to each of the devotion's 14 stations — which represent Christ's journey from arrest at Gethsemane to crucifixion at Cavalry — the 87-year-old pontiff will preside over the celebration from an armchair on the Palatine Hill.

 During Palm Sunday Mass last week, Francis opted at the eleventh hour not to deliver his homily. He also blessed the faithful from his seat at the altar rather than participating in cardinals' procession around St. Peter's Square 

 But the pontiff, who has struggled this year with respiratory illness and worsening mobility, seems so far to be sticking to Holy Week's busy schedule.

 Yesterday afternoon he traveled to Rebbibia prison to wash the feet of 12 female inmates. Francis remained in his wheelchair while performing the rite, which imitates Jesus Christ's washing of his disciples' feet during the last supper. "Let us ask the Lord today for the grace not to grow weary," he said in his Rebibbia homily.

 Before he heads to the Colosseum tonight, the pope presided over the Liturgy of the Passion of Christ at St. Peter's Basilica. In keeping with tradition the preacher of the papal household — currently Cardinal Raniero Canalamessa — delivered the homily.

 In past years Francis has begun the celebration of the Passion of Christ by lying prone before the crucifix. This year, as he did last year, the pope instead sat in his wheelchair in front of the cross.

 The pontiff will experience a particularly personal Via Crucis from the Palatine Hill tonight.

 For the first decade of his papacy, he delegated the writing of the 14 meditations, which are read aloud at each of the procession's stations, to biblical scholars, war refugees, theologians, and migrants. This year, Francis has written each of the meditations himself. 

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