Palm Sunday: For Leo XIV, God ‘does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war’
In his homily in St Peter's Square, the pope spoke of “Jesus, King of Peace," who "always rejects violence”. “In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today,” especially the “victims of war." In the Angelus, the pontiff expressed closeness to the “Christians of the Middle East” who, “in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies” during Holy Week. “Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea,” he said.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Thousands of faithful carried olive branches this morning in St Peter's Square for Palm Sunday celebrations. At the start of his first Holy Week as pontiff, Leo XIV, in his brief homily, called on them to stand “behind him”, behind Jesus on the way of the cross, sharing his journey and contemplating "his life as a gift of love."
Christ, the pope said, “reveals himself as King of peace, even as war looms abounds him”, contrasting Jesus’s “meekness” to the "violence" that drives those around him. “He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs,” Leo said.
These words echo against the backdrop of today's violence and wars, especially in the Middle East, where no truce is visible on the horizon, including the Holy Land, where the King of Peace was born, lived, and died.
The King of Peace, Leo XIV explained in his homily, wanted to tear “down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor." Hence, he entered Jerusalem on a donkey, "not upon a horse."
Equally, Jesus ordered one disciple to “Put your sword back into its place.” In fact, “He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war”. Instead, “He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.”
Thus, “Jesus, King of Peace” is “our God”, the one “who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood’” (Is 1:15).
Looking at Him on the cross, it is possible to see “a crucified humanity. In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today. [. . .] [T]he weeping of those who are crushed, who have no hope, who are sick and who are alone,” but “Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”
At the end of the celebration, Leo XIV recited the Angelus prayer. Right afterwards, he said that during Holy Week “our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days.”
A serious incident was indeed reported this morning in Jerusalem. Israeli police stopped Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Brother Francesco Ielpo from privately visiting the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday celebrations.
“Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s Passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering,” the pope said. “Their ordeal challenges all our consciences. Let us raise our prayer to the Prince of Peace that he may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace.”
Finally, the pontiff dedicated a special thought to the “maritime workers who have fallen victim to the conflict. I pray for the deceased, the wounded and their families. Land, sky and sea were all created for life and peace!”
Leo also spoke about the latest loss of life in the Mediterranean Sea when more than 20 migrants perished near Greece after several days at sea. “Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who lost their lives in recent days off the coast of Crete.”
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11/08/2017 20:05
04/12/2021 19:11
