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Pope Benedict XVI breaks with tradition at procession

Facing driving wind and rain, Pope Benedict XVI opted out of carrying a cross symbolizing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to conclude a traditional Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum.

The 80-year-old pope had earlier planned to take part in only the final three of the 14 Stations of the Cross commemorating the path Jesus took to his execution in one of Christendom's most solemn observances.

Instead the pontiff observed the entire rite from the Palatine Hill overlooking the Colosseum as Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the vicar of Rome, completed the procession.

Meanwhile events in Tibet have cast a shadow over the Vatican's Easter observances, which have Chinese overtones this year to reflect Benedict's advocacy of greater freedom for China's tiny Catholic minority.

Long before Beijing's massive clampdown on protests in Tibet, the pope asked outspoken Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen to write the meditations for Friday's event.

The theme, "living martyrs of the 21st century," was unusually political compared to other years.

The Way of the Cross, for Christians, commemorates the martyrdom and death of Christ.

Zen is a key figure for Asian Catholics including those in China who are split between the official and clandestine Catholic churches.

In one of the meditations read out on Friday, Zen wrote that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Jerusalem who approved the death sentence for Jesus, was the "symbol of all those who use authority as an instrument of power and don't concern themselves with justice."

The pope broke his silence on Tibet during his weekly general audience on Wednesday when he appealed for "dialogue and tolerance" on both sides.

Beijing brushed off the urging, according to Italian press reports that quoted foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang as saying on Thursday: "Supposed tolerance cannot exist for criminals who should be punished by the law."

The "terse and abrupt [response] shows the limits of the dialogue under way between the [Chinese] regime leaders and the Catholic Church," the daily La Repubblica said in an editorial.

The crisis in Tibet has coincided with surprising movement towards rapprochement 57 years after Beijing severed ties with the Holy See over its recognition of Taiwan.

A papal commission on relations with Beijing last week urged "a respectful and constructive dialogue" with China.

And according to an unconfirmed press leak on Thursday, a Chinese government delegation had a secret meeting at the Vatican on Tuesday, four months after a Vatican delegation traveled to Beijing.

Renewing ties would help Beijing improve its image overseas, while the pope's discretion on Tibet was seen as a deliberate bid to avoid antagonizing the Chinese authorities.

The Vatican is working toward reconciliation with Beijing in order to win greater freedom of worship for the faithful, and allow the pope to appoint bishops in China.

The Vatican estimates the number of Catholics in China at between eight and 12 million, while it recognizes 90 percent of bishops in the official Chinese Catholic church.

The Holy See says it will abandon ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing if China guarantees religious freedom and allows the pope to name Chinese bishops.

Beijing has imposed two conditions on the restoration of ties -- the Vatican's recognition of the "one China" policy that precludes independence for Taiwan and its acceptance that religious affairs are an internal Chinese matter.
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