In his homily for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher of the Papal Household, delivered a powerful call for nonviolence. The service, presided over by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica on April 3, 2026, featured the cardinal's reflection on the Passion of Christ as a definitive rejection of violence.
Cardinal Cantalamessa stated that Christians are called to follow Jesus's example by refusing to respond to evil with evil. He emphasized that the cross represents the ultimate answer to violence, not through retaliation, but through sacrificial love and forgiveness. His message connected the ancient story of the Passion to contemporary global conflicts.
The cardinal explicitly urged the faithful to become "artisans of peace" in a world scarred by war. He argued that true strength lies in the courage to love one's enemies and to break cycles of hatred. This annual homily, a central moment in the Vatican's Holy Week observances, traditionally addresses themes of spiritual and social significance.
