Pope Francis, who left hospital last weekend after a bout of bronchitis, will not attend Friday's outdoor Way of the Cross procession because of the cold weather, the Vatican said.
The 86-year-old pontiff will still attend an indoor Good Friday service at St Peter's Basilica, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
It is the first time the pope will not preside at the Via Crucis service since he was elected in 2013. The event was moved to the Vatican during the Covid-19 pandemic and held in slimmed-down versions, but Francis presided.
The Vatican said Pope Francis would follow the service, which usually lasts more than two hours and is attended by thousands of people, from his residence.
The temperature in Rome was expected to be about 10°C on Friday night. The temperature has fallen in recent days and a light snow fell on Rome's outskirts on Thursday.
During the traditional service, the pope sits outdoors near the upper section of the Colosseum while participants process around the ancient monument.
The participants stop to pray and hear meditations at the 14 Stations of the Cross, which commemorate the events in the last hours of the life of Jesus, starting with his arrest and ending with his burial.
Pope Francis spent four days in hospital last week for treatment for bronchitis after complaining of breathing difficulties. He recovered quickly after a course of antibiotics.
The pope, who appeared fine at two services on Thursday, usually speaks at the end of the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.
The Vatican did not announce any changes to the rest of the pope's Holy Week schedule.
He is due to preside at an Easter vigil Mass on Saturday night in St Peter's Basilica and on Easter Sunday he is expected to deliver his twice-annual Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing and message in St Peter's Square.
The Easter Sunday blessing is held from the basilica's outdoor central balcony at noon.
The last pope to skip a Good Friday service was Pope John Paul II. Failing health prevented him from leaving the Vatican in the last weeks of his life in 2005.
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Leading all-time NBA scorers
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
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Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
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Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
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GAC GS8 Specs
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The biog
Name: Samar Frost
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Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
