Tens of thousands of Christians gathered at Rome's Colosseum on Friday as Pope Francis led Easter's Way of the Cross procession, with prayers for the poor and the abandoned.
During the service, the pontiff called on the crowd to "remember all the abandoned people" and spoke of the "monstrosity of man" when he lets evil guide him.
On Thursday, Pope Francis had washed the feet of 12 disabled people – women and non-Catholics among them – during his visit to a home for the elderly and disabled as part of a service commemorating Christ's Last Supper.
His action marked a break with the rules, as until this year only "adult males" may have had their feet washed at the Mass of the Last Supper.
On Saturday night, the pope will celebrate an Easter vigil Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Easter services will conclude on Sunday with a Mass celebrating Jesus's resurrection.
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