The prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, presided over the liturgy for the passion of the Lord, with which he commemorated the last hours of Jesus’ life, on behalf of Pope Francis, who continues convalescent by bilateral pneumonia that endangered his life twice.
The Pontiff, who on Thursday moved to the Roman prison of Regina Coeli where he met 70 detaineesdelegated Cardinal Gugerotti, who coordinates the collection that every Good Friday is held in all the world’s diocese to Help Christians of Holy Landthis celebration.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
During Good Friday, Christians commemorate the passion and death of Christ, so it is the only day of the year in which there is no consecration and Mass is not officiated, as a sign of mourning.
Dress with the red walls, in memory of the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross, Cardinal Gugerotti has laid for a few minutes on the floor of the Basilica of San Pedro del Vaticano, completely devoid of ornaments, illuminated by a soft light in line with the sobriety of the ceremony.
The liturgical celebration has participated in the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, along with his family. The Vatican television cameras captured the American politician, sitting in the first banks of the Basilica of San Pedro, with his daughter Mirabel in his arms.
He was also accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, of his other two children Ewan and Vivek, and a large entourage of collaborators.
It is expected that tomorrow Saturday will meet with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in which it will be the first high -level meeting between the Holy See and the Trump administration.
After the moment of solemn prayer, the Purpurado Italian has stood up again to begin with the proclamation of the liturgy of the word, which has presided as usual the preacher of the Pontifical House, P. Roberto Pasolini.
The liturgy has consisted of the sung reading of three biblical texts, among them, the narration of the Passion of Christ in the Gospel written by the Apostle St. John.
Capuchino friar Roberto Pasolini assured in the homily that in a world dominated by artificial intelligence and mathematical calculations, the cross reveals a type of wisdom that “does not calculate, but loves; that does not optimize, but is delivered.”
In contrast to the algorithms that tell us what to desire or think, the cross “returns the freedom of an authentic choice, founded not on efficiency, but on the love that is delivered.”
P. Pasolini reflected on how, even when our supplications seem not to be heard, God acts. Citing the letter to the Hebrews, he recalled that the Father “sustained” the heart of Jesus in the suffering of the cross “making him able to surrender to the demands of the greatest love.”
Father Pasolini also stressed that Jesus did not suffer his passion passively, but lived it with freedom and confidence. This attitude invites Catholics to “confirm what happens, even what appears hostile or incomprehensible,” he said.
The preacher of the Pontifical House articulated the homily around three key moments of passion: Jesus, in the garden of Getsemaní; on the cross and his last sigh.
Starting with the first, he assured that in the Garden Garden, Jesus does not hide, but takes a step forward. An attitude that, according to Fr. Pasolini, shows that he was not simply arrested, but “offered his life freely.”
On the other hand, he said that on the cross, Jesus, saying that he is thirsty, openly expresses his need. He does not die without first manifesting “the most human and more difficult gesture: asking for what we cannot give ourselves,” said Fr. Pasolini who urged the faithful to “abandon all pride” to be able to recognize their needs and let others help them.
Finally, he reflected on Jesus’ last sigh when he declares: “He is fulfilled.”
For Fr. Pasolini is not a passive defeat, but “an act of supreme freedom”, where weakness becomes a space of full love. “It is not the force that the world saves, but the weakness of a love that does not retain anything,” he said.
In front of a world that idolizes self -sufficiency, the cross, according to the preacher of the Pontifical House, shows that even “there is nothing left to do, the most beautiful is left to do: deliver completely.”
P. Pasolini finally urged to approach the cross with confidence. While he acknowledged that “it is not easy to keep the profession of faith firm,” especially in pain, he invited the faithful to recognize on the cross “the throne of grace to receive mercy.”
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.