Good Friday Procession from the Cathedral of Catania

A procession in the Baroque heart of Catania

The Good Friday Procession is one of the oldest and most attended rites of Holy Week in Catania, Sicily. Following the solemn Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, presided over by the Archbishop, the statues of the Dead Christ and the Madonna Addolorata emerge from the Cathedral Basilica of Sant'Agata to wind through the historic center, enveloping the city in an atmosphere of deep reflection and popular devotion.

History: from Cardinal Dusmet to the Confraternity of San Giuseppe al Transito

The statues date back to the 19th century, and the tradition finds its roots in the era of Cardinal Dusmet. The rite is safeguarded by the Confraternity of San Giuseppe al Transito, active since 1800, which carries the Christ and the Virgin through the streets of Catania. It is one of the most authentic expressions of Catanese religiosity, second in popular intensity only to the great feast of Saint Agatha in February.

Who carries the statues

A unique feature of this procession is its deep bond with the city's working community:

• The Dead Christ is carried on the shoulders by current and retired Poste Italiane (Italian Post) employees, a duty they have upheld for over sixty years;
• The Madonna Addolorata is carried by workers from AMTS, the city's public transport company;
• The leader of the Christ's float traditionally receives their investiture from the head of the Saint Agatha festival float.

The route through the Etnean Baroque monuments

From Piazza Duomo, the procession moves along Via Garibaldi, reaches Piazza Mazzini, turns onto Via Santa Maria della Lettera towards Piazza San Francesco, and then enters Via Crociferi—the pinnacle of Catanese Baroque protected by UNESCO—before heading back up towards Via Sangiuliano and Via Etnea for the return to the Cathedral.

The most moving moment

At the Church of San Benedetto on Via Crociferi, the cloistered Benedictine nuns emerge onto the steps to welcome the Dead Christ with an ancient chant and a floral tribute: a rare public appearance that occurs only during the Saint Agatha festivities. The procession's passage is marked by the band's funeral marches, the flickering light of candles, and the presence of hooded brotherhood members.