The 5th Novemdiales Mass in memory of Pope Francis presided by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

 

Cardinal Sandri leads the fifth Novemdiale mass in St Peter's Basilica  (AFP or licensors)

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• Pope Francis
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Cardinal Sandri: Pope Francis leaves legacy of service and vision

Presiding over the fifth Novemdiales Mass in memory of Pope Francis, Cardinal Sandri reflects on Pope Francis’ witness of humble service as well as on the lasting vision he leaves for the future of the Church.

By Francesca Merlo

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri opened his homily during the fifth Novendiales Mass by proclaiming "Christ is Risen". He noted that in this Easter time the Church is between two important moments: the end of Pope Francis' papacy and the start of a new one. In just a few days, he said, the Cardinal Protodeacon will once again step out onto the balcony of St Peter’s to announce the name of a new Pope. That role, said Cardinal Sandri, “finds its meaning in the Paschal experience of Christ.”

Remembering together, praying together

Cardinal Sandri explained that the Novendiales Mass is not just a time of mourning, but a moment for the Church to come together, to pray, to remember, and to reaffirm its faith in the Resurrection. The cardinals gather not only as collaborators of the Pope, said Cardinal Sandri, but also carrying with them the prayers of people from all over the world: from Tonga to Mongolia, from Tehran to Jerusalem, and from places where Christians are a small but faithful presence, such as Morocco and Algeria.

“We are called each day to remember and consciously live the truth that to reign is to serve,” the Cardinal said, quoting Pope Francis, before stressing that it is with this spirit that Pope Francis lived his papcy: through his actions, his journeys and his constant care for those on the margins.

The title “Servant of the Servants of God,” once used by Pope Gregory the Great, was important for Pope Francis, who continued to remind the Church that at its heart, it must always serve, said the Cardinal

From Scripture to today

Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Cardinal Sandri noted that Peter’s speech at Pentecost was chosen not only because it marked the beginning of the Church but also because it speaks of fulfilment. This, too, reiterates that just as Pentecost marked a new beginning for the apostles, the Church today prepares for a new chapter.

He then went on to recite a verse from the prophet Joel, one often quoted by Pope Francis: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

Cardinal Sandri noted that Pope Francis often linked this passage to the importance of connecting generations. “There is no future without this encounter between old and young,” he explained.

A dream for the Church

Bringing his homily to a close, Cardinal Sandri noted that Pope Francis had already left a vision for the future of the Church. In the Bull of Indiction for the 2025 Jubilee, he looked ahead to another major anniversary: 2000 years since the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, to be celebrated in 2033.

“This Holy Year will guide the path of Christians… so that spiritually, we may all become pilgrims to the Holy Land, and proclaim once again: ‘The Lord is truly risen and has appeared to Simon!’", concluded the cardinal

The Palm Sunday homily of Pope Francis is read at Mass in St. Peter's Square

 

Pope on Palm Sunday: God's mercy calls us to compassion

In his homily read out during the celebration in Saint Peter's Square marking Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Pope Francis calls on us to reflect on the Lord's compassion that knows no limits, "how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week", and help others "all around us" who bear the cross of suffering.

By Thaddeus Jones

Argentinian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Palm Sunday celebration of the Lord's Passion in Saint Peter's Square on behalf of Pope Francis who is limiting his exposure to the elements in order to continue recovery from his respiratory conditions. An estimated forty thousand faithful gathered in the Square. 

More than 40,000 faithful present for the celebration (Vatican Media)

Cardinal Sandri read Pope Francis's homily for the Mass marking the beginning of Holy Week celebrations that commemorate the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection. Pope Francis recalled how on Palm Sunday, we remember the crowds who greeted Jesus with festive joy as he entered Jerusalem, and then only a few days later when Jesus would leave the city condemned, bearing the cross on a path of pain and sorrow.

Simon of Cyrene 

Reflecting on the person of Simon of Cyrene in today's Gospel account who was seized by the Roman soldiers and forced to carry Jesus' cross for a time, the Pope looked at how this person became personally involved in the Lord's passion, even if he did not choose to be. "Jesus’ cross becomes Simon’s cross", he noted. He said Simon’s actions appear to be ambivalent. He was forced to carry the cross of Jesus on the way to Calvary, thus becoming personally involved the Lord's passion even if that would not have been his intention. He observed how Simon of Cyrene acts, but does not speak, and that there is no dialogue between him and Jesus, just "the wood of the cross."

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri presiding at the celebration   (VATICAN MEDIA Divisione Foto)

Simon's role in salvation history

To understand Simon of Cyrene's heart, whether he had compassion or not for Jesus in being forced to share in His suffering, we need to look into his heart, the Pope suggested. And "while God’s heart is ever open, pierced by a pain that reveals his mercy, the human heart remains closed." Would Simon have felt anger, pity, compassion or annoyance, the Pope pondered, but we do knot know. At the same time, we do know that he bore the cross of Christ who took upon Himself the sins of all humanity, the Pope continued.  

"Jesus bore them for love of us, in obedience to the Father; he suffered with us and for us. In this unexpected and astonishing way, Simon of Cyrene becomes part of the history of salvation, in which no one is a stranger, no one a foreigner."

Help carry each other's crosses

The Pope then suggested we in our own lives look at how we can follow in Simon's footsteps who teaches us that "Jesus comes to meet everyone, in every situation." All we have to do is look around us, he observed, "the great crowds of men and women whom hatred and violence are compelling to walk the road to Calvary" in our world, a road "God has made...a place of redemption" since He walked it himself, "giving his life for us." 

“How many Simons of Cyrene are there in our own day, bearing the cross of Christ on their shoulders! Can we recognize them? Can we see the Lord in their faces, marred by the burden of war and deprivation? Faced with the appalling injustice of evil, we never carry the cross of Christ in vain; on the contrary, it is the most tangible way for us to share in his redemptive love.”

How Jesus’ passion becomes compassion

In conclusion, the Pope explained how when we hold out our own hands to those who are suffering, lifting up those who have fallen, embracing those who are discouraged, we manifest how "Jesus’ passion becomes compassion" expressed today. During Holy Week, he suggested we look at our own lives, how in order to experience God's "great miracle of mercy" we can carry our own cross, "but also the cross of those who suffer all around us", even that of some unknown person we find along on our way, and so become "for one another, a Simon of Cyrene."

Papal delegation to Istanbul for visit on Feast of St. Andrew

 

Pope Francis and H.B. Batholomew I of Constantinople  (Vatican Media)

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• POPE
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• ECUMENISM
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Pope to Bartholomew: Only dialogue and encounter can overcome conflicts

A Vatican Delegation led by Cardinal Sandri visits Istanbul for the occasion of the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and conveys Pope Francis’ “fraternal affection” to the Ecumenic Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew. In his message the Pope says that one of the most fruitful areas of cooperation between the Patriarchate and the Catholic Church is interreligious dialogue to promote peace.

By Lisa Zengarini

Following a long-standing tradition, on the occasion of today’s Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of Constantinople, Pope Francis has sent a delegation to Istanbul to convey his greetings and the assurance of his “fraternal affection” to the Ecumenic Patriarch Bartholomew.

The annual exchanges of Delegations

The visit is part of the annual exchange of Delegations between the Holy See and the Patriarchate for their respective patronal feasts, on 29 June in Rome, the Feast of St. Peter and Paul, and on 30 November in Istanbul.

In his message Pope Francis notes  that these visits are “an expression of the depth of the bonds” uniting the Catholic and Orthodox Church of Costantinople and “a visible sign” of  their  “cherished hope for ever deeper communion”, which he  says is “an irrevocable commitment for every Christian” as well as  “an urgent priority in today’s world”.

“Today’s world is greatly in need of reconciliation, fraternity and unity.”

Divisions are the result of sinful action

The Pope further highlights the need to continue analyzing the historical and theological reasons at the origin of the ongoing divisions between the two Churches “in a spirit that is neither polemical nor apologetic but marked instead by authentic dialogue and mutual openness”.

Likewise, he continues, they must “acknowledge that divisions are the result of sinful actions and attitudes which impede the work of the Holy Spirit, who guides the faithful into unity in legitimate diversity”.

They are therefore called “to work towards the restoration of unity between Christians not merely through signed agreements but through fidelity to the Father’s will and discernment of the promptings of the Spirit”.

“We can be thankful to God that our Churches are not resigned to past and current experiences of division, but, on the contrary, through prayer and fraternal charity are seeking instead to achieve full communion that will enable us one day, in God’s time, to gather together at the same Eucharistic table”

The Pope remarks that as they journey together toward the goal of unity, the  Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are already working together for the common good of the human family in many areas including safeguarding creation, defending the dignity of every person, combatting modern forms of slavery, and promoting peace.

Dialogue and encounter are the only viable path for overcoming conflicts

One of the most fruitful areas of such cooperation, the message says, is interreligious dialogue.

The Pope recalls in particular his recent Apostolic Journey to Bahrain for the occasion of the Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence”, reiterating once again that “Dialogue and encounter are the only viable path for overcoming conflicts and all forms of violence”.

Prayers for the victims of the recent attack in Instanbul

Concluding his message Pope Francis recalls  the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul on 12 November, entrusting them to the mercy of God, while praying he will convert the hearts  of those who commit or support such evil actions.

Greetings to Bartholomew during the Wednesday General Audience

The Pope greeted  his “dear brother”  Bartholomew again during his Wednesday General audience. After his Catechesis, he asked the intercession of the Apostles Peter and Andrew for unity among Christians and peace in the world, and especially in “tormented Ukraine”

“May the intercession of the holy brother Apostles Peter and Andrew soon allow the Church to fully enjoy her unity and peace to the whole world, especially at this moment to dear and tormented Ukraine, always in our hearts and in our prayers.”

May St Andrew "teach us to seek the Messiah at every moment of our lives and to proclaim him with joy to all those around us", he then said addressing the Spanish-speaking pilgrims.

The Vatican Delegation

According to the Holy See’s Press Office, the Pope’s message was consigned to H.B. Batholomew by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and read out at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew, in the Patriarchal church of St. George at the Fanar.

The Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches is  accompanied Mgr. Andrea Palmieri, Undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity. After the Liturgy presided over by the Ecumenic Patriarch, the Vatican Delegation, joined by the Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey, Archbishop Marek Solczyński. met with the Patriarch and held conversations with the Synodal Commission in charge of relations with the Catholic Church.