Pope Francis marked Good Friday by attending the Passion of Christ service in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

The traditional ceremony commemorates Christ's death on Good Friday.

It was held just hours before Pope Francis presided, for the first time, over the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession around the ruins of Rome's ancient Colosseum on the most solemn day of the Church's liturgical calendar.

During the service, where the Pope traditionally does not speak to the audience, the cross was taken inside the Basilica and the pontiff kissed the feet of the statue of Jesus Christ.

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