The Good Friday liturgy, marked by silence and sobriety, leads to the contemplation of the mystery of the Cross as a path to salvation
Vatican City. In an atmosphere of profound recollection, the Pope presided this Good Friday over the celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the most moving liturgies of the Christian year. The ceremony began in silence, with the Holy Father entering in procession, without zucchetto or ring, and prostrating himself before the Altar of the Confession, a gesture expressing the total humiliation of Christ in his redemptive self-giving.
The basilica, in semi-darkness, symbolically accompanied this moment: the Light of the world seems to go out while the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s death. The altar, stripped bare, evoked Christ stripped on the cross.
A liturgy that leads to the heart of the mystery
Following the opening prayer at the chair, the Liturgy of the Word began with the proclamation of the prophet Isaiah and an apostolic text, before the solemn chanting of the Passion according to St. John, performed by several voices: narrator, Christ, characters, and choir, giving voice to the dramatic clamor of the people.
The homily was delivered by the preacher of the Papal Household, Friar Roberto Pasolini, OFMCap, who offered a profound meditation on the mystery of the Cross as the culmination of Christ’s journey.
Next, the Universal Prayer took place, in which the Church raised supplications for all humanity. Each intention was preceded by the deacon’s invitation and followed by a prayerful silence, broken only by the Pope’s prayer.
The Adoration of the Cross, the center of the celebration
One of the most intense moments was the Adoration of the Holy Cross. From the back of the basilica, the image of the crucified Christ was carried forward while it was proclaimed: “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world.”
The Pope, setting aside his liturgical vestments, approached in an attitude of deep veneration. Afterward, cardinals and bishops proceeded to adore the Cross, while the choir sang the Reproaches: “My people, what have I done to you?”
The celebration continued with Communion, distributed from the reserved Blessed Sacrament, in an austere liturgy without a Eucharistic prayer or the singing of the Lamb of God.
Finally, after the concluding prayer, the Pope withdrew in silence, without imparting a blessing, as is appropriate for this day when the Church remains by the Lord’s tomb.
Three keys to the homily: the way of the Cross
In his preaching, Friar Roberto Pasolini offered a deep spiritual reading of the Passion, articulated around the figure of the Servant of the Lord. Three ideas marked his reflection:
1. The Cross as the culmination of a path of obedience
The preacher emphasized that the Passion is not an isolated event, but the highest expression of Christ’s entire life. Jesus learned to listen to the Father and to let himself be guided to the extreme of love, fulfilling in his life the songs of the Servant announced by Isaiah.
2. The power of meekness in the face of evil
Friar Pasolini highlighted that the Servant of God does not respond with violence, but faces evil with meekness. In a world tempted by aggression, Christ reveals a different strength: the capacity to welcome evil without returning it, thus breaking the chain of violence.
3. The relevance of Christian witness today
Finally, he noted that today there continues to be a “silent multitude” of men and women who live according to this evangelical logic. People who, without making noise, sustain the hope of the world by choosing good even in the midst of darkness.
Contemplating the Cross to transform life
The celebration of Good Friday is not just a memory of a past event, but a call to a profound conversion. The Adoration of the Cross invites the faithful to recognize the love of God who gives himself without reserve and to allow themselves to be transformed by it.
In a world marked by violence, injustice, and division, the Cross of Christ stands as a sign of hope: not as a defeat, but as the place where love definitively conquers evil.
