In a moving return to St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis greeted thousands of pilgrims on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, marking another unexpected public appearance amid his ongoing recovery from a serious illness. Although unable to preside at the Mass, the Holy Father arrived near the conclusion of the liturgy, offering a blessing and a few heartfelt words: “Happy Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week!”
The 88-year-old pontiff, who recently endured a 39-day hospitalization due to double pneumonia, appeared in a wheelchair but without nasal tubes, smiling as he passed by clergy, religious, and lay faithful gathered under gray skies. His presence brought joy and encouragement to the crowd, many of whom held palms and olive branches in remembrance of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
A Homily of Reflection and Redemption
Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Mass and delivered Pope Francis’ written homily, which centered on Simon of Cyrene — the man compelled to carry Jesus’ cross in the Gospel of Luke.
The Holy Father invited the faithful to walk beside Christ this Holy Week, just as Simon did, not only bearing their own crosses but also sharing in the sufferings of others:
“Let us decide how we are meant to carry our own cross during this Holy Week: if not on our shoulders, in our hearts,” the pope wrote. “And not only our cross but also the cross of those who suffer all around us.”
Though Simon of Cyrene was forced into his role, Pope Francis noted that God used this moment to draw Simon into the mystery of salvation:
“Between him and Jesus, there is no dialogue; not a single word is spoken. Between him and Jesus, there is only the wood of the cross.”
“When we think of what Simon did for Jesus, we should also think of what Jesus did for Simon — what he did for me, for you, for each of us: He redeemed the world.”
This meditation on silent service and divine love framed the pope’s broader message: a reminder that God did not abandon us in suffering but chose to suffer with and for us.
“Let us remember that God has made this road a place of redemption, for he walked it himself, giving his life for us,” Pope Francis emphasized.
Prayers for the Suffering Around the World
Following the Mass, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ Angelus message, which highlighted urgent humanitarian concerns across the globe. He drew special attention to the tragedy in Sudan, where April 15 marks the second anniversary of a brutal civil conflict that has displaced millions and claimed countless lives.
“The suffering of children, women, and vulnerable people cries out to heaven and begs us to act,” he said.
Pope Francis lamented the devastating April 11 attack on a refugee camp in Darfur, where Sudanese paramilitaries killed more than 100 people, including all nine staff members of the camp’s last functioning medical clinic, according to The New York Times. The Holy Father also called for prayers for peace in Congo, South Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Myanmar.
He further extended his condolences to the victims of the tragic nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which left more than 200 dead.
As Holy Week begins, Pope Francis urged the Church to unite in prayer and compassionate action:
“May Mary, Mother of Sorrows, obtain this grace for us and help us to live this Holy Week with faith.”
