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A Silent Role, A Powerful Message: Pope Francis Reflects On Simon Of Cyrene Through Cardinal Sandri's Palm Sunday Homily
Photo credit: Vatican News
Under the bright spring skies of Saint Peter’s Square, about 40,000 faithful gathered for the Palm Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Passion. But this year, things looked a little different. Instead of Pope Francis leading the celebration, it was Argentinian Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, who stepped in to preside over the Mass on behalf of the Pope.
Pope Francis, still recovering from respiratory issues, is keeping his exposure to the elements limited—but that didn’t stop him from delivering a powerful message to kick off Holy Week. Cardinal Sandri read the Pope’s homily, reflecting on the joy of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and the heartbreak that followed just days later, as He left the city carrying the cross.
The Unexpected Companion: Simon of Cyrene
A central figure in this year’s reflection? Simon of Cyrene—the man who, according to today’s Gospel, was seized by Roman soldiers and forced to help Jesus carry His cross. He didn’t volunteer. He didn’t speak. But suddenly, he was there—right in the thick of Jesus’ suffering.
Pope Francis reflected on how Simon’s story is strikingly silent. There’s no record of him saying a word, no known exchange between him and Jesus. Just a man thrust into one of history’s most sacred moments, bearing the weight of the cross. The Pope noted the ambiguity of Simon’s emotions. Did he feel pity? Anger? Compassion? We don’t know. But what we do know is that he carried the cross of Christ—and in doing so, became part of the great story of salvation.
From Cross to Compassion
The Pope’s message hit home with a call to action. He urged us to recognize the Simons of today—those silently carrying the weight of suffering all around us: war survivors, victims of injustice, the displaced and the forgotten. “Can we see the Lord in their faces?” he asked. “Faces marred by the burden of war and deprivation?”
He reminded us that the cross we carry is never carried in vain. It’s in these moments of shared suffering, he said, that we truly take part in Jesus’ redemptive love. “Jesus’ passion becomes compassion,” the Pope said, when we lift up the fallen, embrace the discouraged, and help those suffering—even strangers.
Holy Week and Being Present
As Holy Week begins, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to reflect not just on Jesus’ suffering, but also on how we can be like Simon—maybe unwilling at first, but ultimately transformed by being close to someone else’s pain. Whether it’s a friend, a neighbor, or someone we don’t know, our willingness to share in someone else’s cross can bring us closer to God’s mercy.
So as we move into the holiest days of the Christian year, the message is clear: sometimes the most powerful moments come from simply showing up, bearing a burden—not because we chose it, but because love asked us to. Just like Simon.
Pope Francis, still recovering from respiratory issues, is keeping his exposure to the elements limited—but that didn’t stop him from delivering a powerful message to kick off Holy Week. Cardinal Sandri read the Pope’s homily, reflecting on the joy of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and the heartbreak that followed just days later, as He left the city carrying the cross.
The Unexpected Companion: Simon of Cyrene
A central figure in this year’s reflection? Simon of Cyrene—the man who, according to today’s Gospel, was seized by Roman soldiers and forced to help Jesus carry His cross. He didn’t volunteer. He didn’t speak. But suddenly, he was there—right in the thick of Jesus’ suffering.
Pope Francis reflected on how Simon’s story is strikingly silent. There’s no record of him saying a word, no known exchange between him and Jesus. Just a man thrust into one of history’s most sacred moments, bearing the weight of the cross. The Pope noted the ambiguity of Simon’s emotions. Did he feel pity? Anger? Compassion? We don’t know. But what we do know is that he carried the cross of Christ—and in doing so, became part of the great story of salvation.
From Cross to Compassion
The Pope’s message hit home with a call to action. He urged us to recognize the Simons of today—those silently carrying the weight of suffering all around us: war survivors, victims of injustice, the displaced and the forgotten. “Can we see the Lord in their faces?” he asked. “Faces marred by the burden of war and deprivation?”
He reminded us that the cross we carry is never carried in vain. It’s in these moments of shared suffering, he said, that we truly take part in Jesus’ redemptive love. “Jesus’ passion becomes compassion,” the Pope said, when we lift up the fallen, embrace the discouraged, and help those suffering—even strangers.
Holy Week and Being Present
As Holy Week begins, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to reflect not just on Jesus’ suffering, but also on how we can be like Simon—maybe unwilling at first, but ultimately transformed by being close to someone else’s pain. Whether it’s a friend, a neighbor, or someone we don’t know, our willingness to share in someone else’s cross can bring us closer to God’s mercy.
So as we move into the holiest days of the Christian year, the message is clear: sometimes the most powerful moments come from simply showing up, bearing a burden—not because we chose it, but because love asked us to. Just like Simon.
Apr 14, 2025
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