Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff. This marks the first time in decades a pope has carried the cross to every station. Leo says this act is a significant spiritual symbol, representing the suffering of Christ. The procession, accompanied by torchbearers, moved from inside the Colosseum to Palatine Hill, where Leo gives the final blessing. Around 30,000 faithful gather for the event. Leo will continue to lead Holy Week activities, including an Easter vigil and Easter Sunday Mass with the traditiona Urbi et Orbi address.

A fire destroyed the main meditation hall at Tassajara Mountain Zen Center in Central California, as monks neared the end of a long retreat. Last week's fire burned down the wooden building and damaged a nearby library. No one was injured. Staff members used hoses and buckets to slow the flame, limiting the damage to just the one structure. Volunteer firefighters arrived an hour after the fire broke out. A center administrator said several sacred items, including a 2,000-year-old Buddha statue, may have been destroyed. However, the extent of the damages won't be known until they sift through the rubble. Leaders say the loss feels painful, but it also reinforces Buddhism’s teaching on impermanence.

It might seem impossible to get away from the constant barrage of news these days. But at an urban North Carolina arboretum, people are “bathing” in nature to wash away the stress. The Sunday morning session at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh was led by certified forest therapy guide Shawn Ramsey. Jingling a tiny brass bell, she called her dozen or so charges to gather for meditation, breathing exercises and to commune with nature. Based on the Japanese wellness practice of Shinrin-yoku, Ramsey noted that the activity has been known to reduce stress, improve mood, lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.