Pope Francis celebrates the evening Mass at San Giovanni Laterano Basilica before travelling to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. Photo: Giampiero Esposito/ReutersPope Francis has again broken with the practice of his predecessors, walking the full length of an annual 1.6-kilometre procession from one Roman basilica to another.
The 76-year-old Pontiff, who walks with a slight limp because of apparent lower back pain, paused several times in prayer during the 45-minute night-time walk between St John Lateran and St Mary Major. Thousands of pilgrims holding candles lined the route on a chilly spring evening.
During his nearly eight-year pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI would make the annual Corpus Christi procession riding on a specially outfitted flat-top pickup vehicle, kneeling in prayer.
Pope John Paul II did the same in his final years.
On Thursday, two priests knelt on the vehicle in prayer before the Eucharist while Pope Francis walked behind them.