Pope cuts saint in controversial edit of Stations story

SAINT Veronica has been sidelined and Judas gets a prominent spot in the new Stations of the Cross, announced last night by Pope Benedict.

Pope Benedict chose the annual Good Friday events in Rome last night to unveil a much changed order to the traditional procession which retraces the route Jesus took from prison to his crucifixion on the Hill of Calvary in 14 stages or ‘stations’.

The most dramatic changes include the omission of the station, traditionally the sixth, where St Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, and the three stations which record Jesus falling under the weight of the wooden cross he is forced to carry.