The meditations for the Way of the Cross led by Pope Leo in the Colosseum were written by Franciscan Fr. Francesco Patton, former Custos of the Holy Land.
Each of the Stations concludes with five petitions and a response, drawing on the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.
The full text of the Stations is available here.
Fr. Patton is an Italian friar who served as Custos from 2016 until 2025.
Here are the litanies and a portion of the introduction.
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The Way of the Cross winds through the narrow streets in the Old City of Jerusalem, allowing us to retrace Jesus’ path from the place of his condemnation to that of his crucifixion and burial, which is also the site of his resurrection.
First Station: Jesus is condemned to death
That you identify yourself with every person who is judged: Remind me, Jesus.
That I may not be guided by prejudice: Remind me, Jesus.
That true power consists in love: Remind me, Jesus.
That mercy triumphs over judgment: Remind me, Jesus.
That the good must be chosen even when it comes at a cost: Remind me, Jesus.
Second Station: Jesus takes up his cross
From the desire for worldly glory: Deliver us, Lord.
From the temptation to ignore those who suffer: Deliver us, Lord.
From the narrow concern for ourselves alone: Deliver us, Lord.
From the fear of embracing steadfast fidelity: Deliver us, Lord.
From the fear and the rejection of our own cross: Deliver us, Lord.
Third Station: Jesus falls the first time
When we fall due to our own weakness: Lift us up, Jesus.
When we fall due to the actions of others: Lift us up, Jesus.
When we fall due to wrong choices: Lift us up, Jesus.
When we fall into despair: Lift us up, Jesus.
When we fall into the mystery of death: Lift us up, Jesus.
Fourth Station: Jesus meets his mother
For mothers who have lost their children: Comfort us, O Mother.
For orphans, especially those bereaved by war: Comfort us, O Mother.
For migrants, the displaced and refugees: Comfort us, O Mother.
For those who suffer torture and unjust punishment: Comfort us, O Mother.
For the despairing who have lost their sense of purpose in life: Comfort us, O Mother.
For those who die alone: Comfort us, O Mother.
Fifth Station: Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene
To the people we meet: Make us attentive, Lord.
To the poor, the suffering and the marginalized: Make us attentive, Lord.
To those who are alone and neglected: Make us attentive, Lord.
To those who are left behind and fall: Make us attentive, Lord.
To those who have no one to listen to them: Make us attentive, Lord.
Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
When your face is disfigured: Help us to recognize you, Jesus.
In every person condemned by prejudice: Help us to recognize you, Jesus.
In the poor deprived of their dignity: Help us to recognize you, Jesus.
In women who are victims of trafficking and enslavement: Help us to recognize you, Jesus.
In children whose childhood has been stolen and whose future has been compromised: Help us to recognize you, Jesus.
Seventh Station: Jesus falls the second time
When our mistakes weigh us down: Lift us up, Lord.
When the burden of responsibility overwhelms us: Lift us up, Lord.
When we fall into discouragement: Lift us up, Lord.
When we fail in our commitments: Lift us up, Lord.
When we are overcome by addiction: Lift us up, Lord.
Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
To weep over the devastation of war: Give us tears, Lord.
To weep for massacres and genocides: Give us tears, Lord.
To weep with mothers and wives: Give us tears, Lord.
To weep over the cynicism of the powerful: Give us tears, Lord.
To weep over our own indifference: Give us tears, Lord.
Ninth Station: Jesus falls the third time
To lift up all who have fallen: Make us your instruments, Jesus.
To lift up those who lie on the ground: Make us your instruments, Jesus.
To lift up the most frail: Make us your instruments, Jesus.
To lift up those we judge as having “brought it upon themselves:” Make us your instruments, Jesus.
To lift up those who seem beyond hope: Make us your instruments, Jesus.
Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments
With your infinite humility: Clothe us, Jesus.
With respect for every human being: Clothe us, Jesus.
With compassion of heart: Clothe us, Jesus.
With a renewed sense of modesty: Clothe us, Jesus.
With the strength to defend the dignity of every person: Clothe us, Jesus.
Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross
When we suffer injustice: Teach us to love.
When we would seek revenge: Teach us to love.
When we are tempted towards violence: Teach us to love.
When forgiveness seems impossible: Teach us to love.
When we feel crucified: Teach us to love.
Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the cross
That we may become new creatures and live in God: Give us your Spirit, Lord.
That we may experience the forgiveness of our debts: Give us your Spirit, Lord.
That we may pray, “Abba, Father:” Give us your Spirit, Lord.
That we may welcome every person as a brother or sister: Give us your Spirit, Lord.
That we may discover the ultimate meaning of life: Give us your Spirit, Lord.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross
That we may feel the suffering of prisoners: Teach us compassion.
That we may stand in solidarity with political prisoners: Teach us compassion.
That we may understand the anguish of the families of hostages: Teach us compassion.
That we may mourn those who have died beneath the rubble: Teach us compassion.
That we may show respect for all the dead: Teach us compassion.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb
To walk with us again in the Garden: Come, Lord Jesus.
To dry the tears from our eyes: Come, Lord Jesus.
To give us sure hope: Come, Lord Jesus.
To roll away the stone that weighs upon our hearts: Come, Lord Jesus.
To give us a glimpse of Paradise: Come, Lord Jesus.
