Pope Francis during a previous Via Crucis – Agenzia Romano Siciliani
Fourteen times the name of Jesus. Fourteen invocations that conclude the texts for the Via Crucis of Good Friday at the Colosseum. A culmination of the meditations written for the first time in this pontificate by the Pope himself, released this morning, and which have an eminently spiritual flavour, almost a face-to-face dialogue with the Lord, “holy judge who will call me by name”, writes the Pontiff, even if there is no lack of heartfelt references to current events. «Suffering with God does not have the last word”, says Francis. Or with reference to the many media pillories of our times: «A keyboard is enough to insult and publish sentences», he writes in the comment on the Veronica station. In other texts there is also an exhortation to recognize “the greatness of women, who even today are discarded by suffering outrages and violence”. Dad Bergoglio once again denounces the “madness of war”, says he cries in the face of the tragedies of the world and gives voice to the pain in front of the “faces of children who no longer know how to smile, of mothers who see them malnourished and hungry and have no more tears to spare”. deposit”.
The Pope asks Jesus: «Make him recognize and love you in unborn children and abandoned ones, in many young people, waiting for someone to listen to their cry of pain, in too many discarded elderly people, in prisoners and in those who are only, in the most exploited and forgotten peoples.” And again: «Heal my heart and give meaning to my pain. Free me from suspicion and distrust. Help me to love and forgive, to overcome intolerance and indifference, not to complain” and to “bring to fruition your plans for good and peace”. Jesus, continues the Pontiff, «I thank you for those who respond to your invitation and have the perseverance to pray, the courage to believe and the perseverance to move forward in difficulties. I present to you the shepherds of your holy people: their prayer sustains the flock; let them find time to be before you, let them conform their hearts to yours. I bless you for the contemplatives, whose prayer, hidden from the world and pleasing to you, safeguards the Church and humanity. I bring before you the families and people who prayed from their homes this evening, the elderly, especially those alone, the sick, gems of the Church who unite their sufferings with yours.”
The Pope also hopes that his «intercessory prayer will reach the sisters and brothers who in many parts of the world suffer persecution because of the name of Jesus; those who suffer the drama of war and those who, drawing strength from you, carry heavy crosses. With your cross – he adds – you have made all of us one: bring believers together in communion, instill fraternal and patient feelings, help us to collaborate and walk together; keep the Church and the world in peace.” And finally, he calls again, “deliver me from rash judgments, from gossip and from violent and offensive words.”
They are texts of great spiritual depth. For example, the one in which Francesco recalls it is It is also possible today to see Jesus crucified “in the Christs humiliated by arrogance and injustice, by unfair gains made at the expense of others in general indifference”. «Now I understand – he comments – your insistence on identifying with the needy: you were imprisoned; you stranger, led out of the city to be crucified; you are naked, stripped of your clothes; you, sick and wounded; you, thirsty on the cross and hungry for love. Let me see you in the suffering and see the suffering in you, because you are there, in those who are stripped of dignity.”
Several meditations refer to the power of prayer. Thus, when he speaks of Joseph of Arimathea, who asks Pilate for the body of Jesus. «Joseph, remind us that insistent prayer bears fruit and even passes through the darkness of death; that love does not remain unanswered, but gives new beginnings. Your tomb which – unique in history – will be a source of life, was new, just dug into the rock.”
The relationship with the Madonna is also very delicate, to whom the Pope is extremely devoted. «Maria, we are poor in “yes” and rich in “ifs”: if I had had better parents, if I had been more understood and loved, if my career had gone better, if there wasn’t that problem, if only I didn’t suffer more, if God would listen to me… Perpetually asking ourselves the why of things, we struggle to live the present with love. You would have many “ifs” to say to God, but you still say “yes”. Strong in faith, you believe that pain, crossed by love, bears fruits of salvation; that suffering with God does not have the last word.”
Here, right here is the ultimate meaning of these meditations. That if, as in all the via crucis, they come to accompany the deposition of Christ in the tomb, they already give a glimpse of the joy of the resurrection.
