Ana Torres
It is a tradition unique to Good Friday: the pope prostrating himself on the ground to adore the Crucifix of Jesus Christ—Pope Leo XIV's first time as pontiff.
Presiding over the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday, Pope Leo was joined by thousands of faithful in St. Peter’s Basilica. They gathered to listen to the Gospel according to Saint John, as tradition dictates, since it has the most complete account of the Passion.
Stripped of his mitre, his pastoral staff, and his zucchetto, Pope Leo XIV lay face-down in adoration before the altar and the Cross and then presided over the Good Friday service.
Fr. Roberto Pasolini, who is the Preacher of the Papal Household, took to the pulpit during the service and delivered a homily in which he recalled how evil was conquered more than two thousand years ago.
FR. ROBERTO PASOLINI
Preacher of the Papal Household
We see it constantly—in wars, in divisions, in the wounds that mark all our relationships—evil continues to circulate because it always finds someone willing to return it and multiply it. Jesus has broken this chain.
He also reminded those present that the death on the Cross on Good Friday was not an isolated event, but the culmination of a journey in which the Son of God allowed himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit—trusting always and fully in the will of the Father.
FR. ROBERTO PASOLINI
Preacher of the Papal Household
When evil strikes us, our instinct is always to react, to send it back, to at least even the score. The Servant does not resign himself to this logic; he accepts everything without returning violence—evil reaches him and there it stops.
After the various and extensive prayers of the faithful were completed, the most anticipated moment arrived: the Pope removed his chasuble, his shoes, and the Fisherman’s Ring, then humbly venerated the Cross of Salvation.
This is the only day of the year in which the Mass is not celebrated—but Communion is still distributed using the hosts that were consecrated the previous day.
