As Christians around the world commemorate the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, few places offer such a vivid and moving meditation on Christ’s suffering and victory as Rome’s iconic Bridge of Angels. Known in Italian as the Ponte Sant’Angelo, this bridge connects the heart of the Eternal City with the towering Castel Sant’Angelo, once a papal fortress. But more than a historical crossing, it has become a sacred pathway—a visual Via Crucis—lined with striking angelic figures bearing the instruments of Christ’s Passion.
In a special episode available on the EWTN Travel App, Fr. Michael Baggot, LC, joins Andreas Thonhauser, EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief, to walk viewers through the spiritual significance of this beloved Roman site. Their reflection is not just a tour, but a timely meditation for Good Friday and the entire Lenten season.
As they stroll across the bridge, Fr. Baggot draws attention to the dramatic symbolism of the angel statues—designed under the supervision of Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 17th century. Each angel carries an object associated with the Passion of Christ: the cross, the nails, the crown of thorns, and other instruments of suffering. These are not mere decorations; they are spiritual signposts.
“It seems strange,” Fr. Baggot notes, “to celebrate something that was so horrible, so humiliating. And yet, the angels hold these instruments as trophies—a sign of Christ’s victory over sin and death.”
The reflection continues as the two contemplate how the crucifixion, the most brutal form of execution used by the Romans, became the very source of life for Christians. “God can reach into the darkness of our lives and bring out light,” Fr. Baggot says. “That’s why we wear crosses—not because we celebrate pain, but because we proclaim hope.”
This sacred walk across the Bridge of Angels becomes a living homily on the paradox of redemptive suffering. For pilgrims in Rome during Lent, the bridge serves as a powerful place to pray and reflect. For those joining virtually, this video from EWTN offers an opportunity to spiritually accompany Christ in His Passion.
In addition to their reflection on the bridge, Fr. Baggot and Thonhauser also highlight the ancient Roman tradition of the Station Churches, encouraging pilgrims to journey—physically or spiritually—through the historic Lenten itinerary that leads through the tombs of martyrs and churches steeped in centuries of prayer.
As we move toward Easter, their conversation is a timely reminder: “From ugliness, God can bring beauty. From death, life. From the cross, salvation.”
You can watch this special feature now on the free EWTN Travel App available on Apple and Google appstores—a perfect companion for your journey through Rome and beyond.
