By Kristina Millare
Rome Newsroom, Apr 13, 2025 / 10:50 am
Marking another in a series of recent surprise public appearances, Pope Francis on Sunday briefly greeted thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to celebrate Palm Sunday.
“Happy Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week!” the Holy Father said with some difficulty to the cheers of the large crowd that filled the square and spilled out along the Via della Conciliazione.
Unable to participate in the Palm Sunday Mass, the 88-year-old pontiff, still convalescing after a serious bout of double pneumonia that kept him hospitalized for 39 days, arrived in a wheelchair toward the end of the outdoor liturgy, smiling and without nasal tubes as he passed by clergy, religious men and women, and lay people standing near the altar.
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Mass as the pope’s delegate and read the Holy Father’s written homily to crowds of people waving palms and olive branches under overcast skies.
In his prepared homily, the pope exhorted Christians to “experience the great miracle of mercy” by accompanying Jesus in his journey to the cross.
“Let us decide how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week: if not on our shoulders, in our hearts,” the pope shared.
As we journey towards Calvary, let us take a moment to reflect on the actions of Simon of Cyrene, who unexpectedly found himself caught up in the drama of Christ’s crucifixion, as mentioned in St. Luke’s gospel. Pope Francis highlighted the significance of Simon’s role in helping Jesus carry the cross, urging us to look into his heart and follow in his footsteps alongside Jesus.
Despite Simon of Cyrene’s initial reluctance and lack of conviction, he stepped in to assist Jesus under coercion, ultimately becoming part of the history of salvation in an unexpected and astonishing way. There may not have been any dialogue between them, but his silent presence and actions spoke volumes about compassion and solidarity with the suffering Christ.
