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Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

20 November 2016

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the crown of the liturgical year and this Holy Year of Mercy.  The Gospel in fact presents the kingship of Jesus as the culmination of his saving work, and it does so in a surprising way.  “The Christ of God, the Chosen One, the King” (Lk 23:35,37) appears without power or glory: he is on the cross, where he seems more to be conquered than conqueror.  His kingship is paradoxical: his throne is the cross; his crown is made of thorns; he has no sceptre, but a reed is put into his hand; he does not have luxurious clothing, but is stripped of his tunic; he wears no shiny rings on his fingers, but his hands are pierced with nails; he has no treasure, but is sold for thirty pieces of silver.

Jesus’ reign is truly not of this world (cf. Jn 18:36); but for this reason, Saint Paul tells us in the Second Reading, we find redemption and forgiveness (cf. Col 1:13-14).  For the grandeur of his kingdom is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things.  Christ lowered himself to us out of this love, he lived our human misery, he suffered the lowest point of our human condition: injustice, betrayal, abandonment; he experienced death, the tomb, hell.  And so our King went to the ends of the universe in order to embrace and save every living being.  He did not condemn us, nor did he conquer us, and he never disregarded our freedom, but he paved the way with a humble love that forgives all things, hopes all things, sustains all things (cf. 1 Cor 13:7).  This love alone overcame and continues to overcome our worst enemies: sin, death, fear.  

Dear brothers and sisters, today we proclaim this singular victory, by which Jesus became the King of every age, the Lord of history: with the sole power of love, which is the nature of God, his very life, and which has no end (cf. 1 Cor 13:8).  We joyfully share the splendour of having Jesus as our King: his rule of love transforms sin into grace, death into resurrection, fear into trust.

It would mean very little, however, if we believed Jesus was King of the universe, but did not make him Lord of our lives: all this is empty if we do not personally accept Jesus and if we do not also accept his way of being King.  The people presented to us in today’s Gospel, however, help us.  In addition to Jesus, three figures appear: the people who are looking on, those near the cross, and the criminal crucified next to Jesus.

First, the people: the Gospel says that “the people stood by, watching” (Lk 23:35): no one says a word, no one draws any closer.  The people keep their distance, just to see what is happening.  They are the same people who were pressing in on Jesus when they needed something, and who now keep their distance.  Given the circumstances of our lives and our unfulfilled expectations, we too can be tempted to keep our distance from Jesus’ kingship, to not accept completely the scandal of his humble love, which unsettles and disturbs us.  We prefer to remain at the window, to stand apart, rather than draw near and be with him.  A people who are holy, however, who have Jesus as their King, are called to follow his way of tangible love; they are called to ask themselves, each one each day: “What does love ask of me, where is it urging me to go?  What answer am I giving Jesus with my life?”

There is a second group, which includes various individuals: the leaders of the people, the soldiers and a criminal.  They all mock Jesus.  They provoke him in the same way: “Save yourself!” (Lk 23:35,37,39).  This temptation is worse than that of the people.  They tempt Jesus, just as the devil did at the beginning of the Gospel (cf. Lk 4:1-13), to give up reigning as God wills, and instead to reign according to the world’s ways: to come down from the cross and destroy his enemies!  If he is God, let him show his power and superiority!  This temptation is a direct attack on love: “save yourself” (vv. 37,39); not others, but yourself.  Claim triumph for yourself with your power, with your glory, with your victory.  It is the most terrible temptation, the first and the last of the Gospel.  When confronted with this attack on his very way of being, Jesus does not speak, he does not react.  He does not defend himself, he does not try to convince them, he does not mount a defence of his kingship.  He continues rather to love; he forgives, he lives this moment of trial according to the Father’s will, certain that love will bear fruit.

In order to receive the kingship of Jesus, we are called to struggle against this temptation, called to fix our gaze on the Crucified One, to become ever more faithful to him.  How many times, even among ourselves, do we seek out the comforts and certainties offered by the world.  How many times are we tempted to come down from the Cross.  The lure of power and success seem an easy, quick way to spread the Gospel; we soon forget how the Kingdom of God works.  This Year of Mercy invites us to rediscover the core, to return to what is essential.  This time of mercy calls us to look to the true face of our King, the one that shines out at Easter, and to rediscover the youthful, beautiful face of the Church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission.  Mercy, which takes us to the heart of the Gospel, urges us to give up habits and practices which may be obstacles to serving the Kingdom of God; mercy urges us to orient ourselves only in the perennial and humble kingship of Jesus, not in submission to the precarious regalities and changing powers of every age. 

In the Gospel another person appears, closer to Jesus, the thief who begs him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).  This person, simply looking at Jesus, believed in his kingdom.  He was not closed in on himself, but rather – with his errors, his sins and his troubles – he turned to Jesus.  He asked to be remembered, and he experienced God’s mercy: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43).  As soon as we give God the chance, he remembers us.  He is ready to completely and forever cancel our sin, because his memory – unlike our own – does not record evil that has been done or keep score of injustices experienced.  God has no memory of sin, but only of us, of each of us, we who are his beloved children.  And he believes that it is always possible to start anew, to raise ourselves up.

Let us also ask for the gift of this open and living memory.  Let us ask for the grace of never closing the doors of reconciliation and pardon, but rather of knowing how to go beyond evil and differences, opening every possible pathway of hope.  As God believes in us, infinitely beyond any merits we have, so too we are called to instil hope and provide opportunities to others.  Because even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy which is the heart of Christ always remains open wide for us.  From the lacerated side of the Risen One until the very end of time flow mercy, consolation and hope. 

So many pilgrims have crossed the threshold of the Holy Doors, and far away from the clamour of the daily news they have tasted the great goodness of the Lord.  We give thanks for this, as we recall how we have received mercy in order to be merciful, in order that we too may become instruments of mercy.  Let us go forward on this road together.  May our Blessed Lady accompany us, she who was also close to the Cross, she who gave birth to us there as the tender Mother of the Church, who desires to gather all under her mantle.  Beneath the Cross, she saw the good thief receive pardon, and she took Jesus’ disciple as her son.  She is Mother of Mercy, to whom we entrust ourselves: every situation we are in, every prayer we make, when lifted up to his merciful eyes, will find an answer.

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Lesotho’s first Cardinal and Bishop emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek, Koto Sabastian Khoarai, OMI, elevated to the office of Cardinal Saturday was not able to make the trip to Rome for the consistory due to advanced age and infirmity. He will receive the insignia of his new office by a Papal emissary. Cardinal Khoarai has also been appointed Cardinal-Priest of San Leonardo da Porto Maurizio ad Acilia

Earlier Cardinal Khoarai, who is 87, years old told Lesotho Times reporter Lekhetho Ntsukunyane, “The Lord will help me carry out this task.” He also told Lesotho Times that his appointment as Cardinal came as a surprise,

“I was actually caught by surprise. I was not expecting anything like this,” the new Cardinal said. As congratulatory messages kept coming through, it was only after Mgr Kevin Randall, the counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Pretoria wrote to congratulate him that he knew for certain about his appointment.

At the time of the interview with Lesotho Times, in October, the Cardinal was looking forward to travelling to Rome for the consistory, but this has not been possible due to ill health.

Cardinal Khoarai had served as Bishop for 36 years when he retired in 2014. Notwithstanding his advanced age, the new Cardinal maintains a fairly active pastoral life. At the time of his appointment as Cardinal, he says he was contemplating to take charge of the stalled construction of St. Patrick’s Church in Mohale’s Hoek

“The construction of the Church had already started during my tenure, but it stopped due to resource constraints three years ago. It bothers me a lot that I didn’t finish what I started, and now there is even a new assignment for me. Even though I am now retired as the Mohale’s Hoek Bishop, I still wanted to complete the construction of St Patrick’s Church building because I started it,” the Cardinal indicated.

The College of Cardinals is divided into three ranks: Cardinal Bishops, Cardinal Priests and Cardinal Deacons. Most of the Cardinals are Bishops even if they are referred to as Cardinal Priests or Cardinal Deacons. The Cardinal Bishops and Cardinal Deacons are members of the Roman Curia, heading departments of the Holy See.

Cardinal Priests are mostly the senior Archbishops of the world who reside in dioceses. Each has the title of an ancient Diocese in Rome. The senior Cardinal Bishop is the ‘Dean’ or head of the College. The current Dean is the retired Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano. The Dean presides at the election of a new Pope. The senior Cardinal Deacon is the Cardinal who announces the newly elected Pope to the world.

(Fr. Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio)

Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va

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Vatican City, Nov 19, 2016 / 07:36 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- After becoming the first prelate from Bangladesh to ever get a red hat, newly-elevated Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario said his country is waiting for the Pope’s visit in 2017, which will not only rejuvenate the Church, but will help strengthen interfaith ties. Pope Francis’ visit to Bangladesh will be “a great event for the whole Church in the country, especially for interreligious harmony, the rights of government workers and for climate change,” Cardinal D'Rozario told journalists Nov. 19, after being elevated as cardinal earlier that day. “He’s a kind of ‘spiritual guru,’ the Holy Father,” the cardinal said, predicting the visit will “boost-up the spirituality, the communion of all the people.” When asked when the Pope’s Bangladesh visit will take place, the new cardinal joked “I’m going to take him there right now!” Turning practical, he said that due to the country’s hot season and monsoon season, the trip will likely take place in the second half of 2017 at the end of the year. Cardinal D'Rozario, the Archbishop of Dhaka, was one of 17 priests and bishops to be made a cardinal by Pope Francis during a special consistory Saturday, set to coincide with the close of the Jubilee of Mercy. True to the Pope’s style, many of the new cardinals named by Francis come from small countries or islands that have never before had a cardinal, as well as from countries which present particular challenges in terms of pastoral outreach, such as those stricken with violence or persecution. Cardinal D'Rozario is the first-ever cardinal from Bangladesh. Other countries with their first cardinal include the Central African Republic, Mauritius Island, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Lesotho and Albania. Speaking to journalists, the cardinal said the Pope’s visit to Bangladesh will also serve as a stimulus to strengthen community bonds weakened by recent acts of terrorism. On July 1 Islamic terrorists laid siege to a restaurant in Bangladesh, killing 20 people. The attack took place just as Muslims in the midst of the month of Ramadan were about to break their fast at sundown. According to Cardinal D'Rozario, such attacks “are very foreign to our culture,” which has enjoyed interreligious harmony and dialogue “for many, many years. So this is something foreign.” He noted how for the past nine months he has been working with the government and other religious leaders in the country “in order to build that communion again.” The cardinal also reflected on his feelings about his elevation to the College of Cardinals. When he first got the news, he said, “I could not believe it, I could not accept it.” He said he was moved by the letter Pope Francis sent him, in which the pontiff emphasized that “when the people come and wish you and greet you, remember the Lord is gazing on you. He is up there gazing, looking at you.” Another of the new cardinals is Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga of Bangui in the Central African Republic. The country was Pope Francis’ first stop last November as part of his tour of Africa. For Cardinal Nzapalainga, the consistory “is a very great day for us,” particularly “because the Pope came to Central Africa to open the Holy Door.” In an unprecedented move, the Pope jump-started the Jubilee of Mercy by opening the Holy Door in Bangui Nov. 29, 10 days before the Holy Year officially began. Not only did it mark the first time a Pope had opened a Holy Door outside of Rome, but the act was also seen as a strong sign of solidarity with the war-torn country. The Central African Republic’s president Faustin-Archange Touadéra, was also present for the consistory alongside the President of the Assembly, the lower house of the country’s parliament, and the country’s Imam. Given the presence of both religious and governmental leaders at his official elevation ceremony, Cardinal Nzapalainga said, “we think that it’s something more than for us, it’s something for the whole Church in Africa and the whole country.”  

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Vatican City, Nov 20, 2016 / 03:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday Pope Francis closed the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, officially marking the end of the Jubilee of Mercy, which he said is a reminder that love is at the core of God’s attitude, rather than power and prestige.

“This Year of Mercy invites us to rediscover the core, to return to what is essential,” the Pope said Nov. 20, the Feast of Christ the King.

The “time of mercy” lived during the Jubilee serves as a call to look to “the true face of our King,” and to rediscover “the youthful, beautiful face of the Church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission.”

Mercy, he said, takes us “to the heart of the Gospel, urges us to give up habits and practices which may be obstacles to serving the Kingdom of God” and urges us to align ourselves “only in the perennial and humble kingship of Jesus, not in submission to the precarious regalities and changing powers of every age.”

Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Mass marking the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. He first announced the Jubilee during a March 13, 2015, penitential liturgy inside the basilica.

In an unprecedented move, the Pope jump-started the Holy Year by opening the Holy Door in Bangui Nov. 29, 2015, – 10 days before the Holy Year officially began Dec. 8, 2015. Not only did it mark the first time a Pope had opened a Holy Door outside of Rome, but the act was also seen as a strong sign of solidarity with the war-torn country.

After closing the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica – the last one open in the world – the Pope processed to the square outside, where he celebrated Mass with the 70,000 pilgrims present, according to Vatican security.

 

#PopeFrancis closes Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica before Mass, marking close of @Jubilee_va of #Mercy pic.twitter.com/yiscskZROD

— Elise Harris (@eharris_it) November 20, 2016


 

In his homily, the Pope pointed to the day’s Gospel from Luke, in which Christ, “the Chosen One, the King” appears “without power or glory: he is on the cross, where he seems more to be conquered than conqueror.”

Jesus’ kingship, he said, “is paradoxical:” his crown is made of thorns, he has no scepter, no “luxurious clothing” or “shiny rings” on his fingers, but is instead pierced with nails and sold for 30 pieces of silver.

Francis noted that glory of God's kingdom “is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things.”

Christ “lowered himself to us out of this love, he lived our human misery, he suffered the lowest point of our human condition” of betrayal and abandonment. However, “he did not condemn us, nor did he conquer us, and he never disregarded our freedom,” but instead “paved the way with a humble love that forgives all things.”

In celebrating the Feast of Christ the King, we proclaim his victory over death “with the sole power of love,” Pope Francis said, but cautioned that it would mean “very little” if we believed Jesus was King of the universe, but didn’t “make him Lord of our lives.”

He pointed to three different figures in the Gospel representing the different attitudes we can have: naming them as the people who are looking on, those near the cross, and the criminal crucified next to Jesus.

Those who stood by and merely watched as Jesus was crucified without saying a word were the same ones who pressed “in on Jesus when they needed something, and who now keep their distance.”

Francis said that we too can keep our distance, preferring “to remain at the window, to stand apart, rather than draw near and be with him.” However, a people who are holy and “have Jesus as their King, are called to follow his way of tangible love.”

Pointing to the second group, which included leaders, soldiers and a criminal, the Pope noted how they “all mock Jesus. They provoke him in the same way: ‘Save yourself!’”

This temptation, he said, “is worse than that of the people. They tempt Jesus, just as the devil did at the beginning of the Gospel to give up reigning as God wills, and instead to reign according to the world’s ways,” preferring to save himself over others.

“It is the most terrible temptation, the first and the last of the Gospel,” he said, but noted that when faced with this attack, “Jesus does not speak, he does not react. He does not defend himself.”

Rather, the Lord “continues rather to love; he forgives, he lives this moment of trial according to the Father’s will, certain that love will bear fruit.”

The Pope stressed that we are called to “struggle against this temptation” and fix our eyes on the Crucified Jesus, becoming “ever more faithful to him.”

“The lure of power and success seem an easy, quick way to spread the Gospel; we soon forget how the Kingdom of God works,” he said, but said the Jubilee of Mercy directs our focus to what's essential.

Turning to the third figure, the thief who begs Jesus to remember him, Pope Francis said this person in “simply looking at Jesus, believed in his kingdom.”

Instead of being “closed in on himself,” the man, despite his sins and errors, “turned to Jesus. He asked to be remembered, and he experienced God’s mercy.”

“As soon as we give God the chance, he remembers us. He is ready to completely and forever cancel our sin,” Francis said, explaining that unlike our own, God’s memory “does not record evil that has been done or keep score of injustices experienced.”

“God has no memory of sin, but only of us, of each of us, we who are his beloved children. And he believes that it is always possible to start anew, to raise ourselves up.”

Pope Francis encouraged pilgrims to pray for the grace to never close the doors “of reconciliation and pardon,” explaining that just God believes in us beyond any of our own merits, “so too we are called to instill hope and provide opportunities to others.”

“Even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy which is the heart of Christ always remains open wide for us,” he said noting that it is from “the lacerated side of the Risen One” that mercy, consolation and hope flow until the end of time.

He offered thanks for the many pilgrims who during the Jubilee crossed the Holy Door away from “the clamor” of daily news and tasted the “great goodness” of the Lord, and asked Mary to intercede for us as the Holy Year comes to an end.

“May our Blessed Lady accompany us...She is Mother of Mercy, to whom we entrust ourselves: every situation we are in, every prayer we make, when lifted up to his merciful eyes, will find an answer.”

After celebrating Mass, Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying the Angelus, telling them to give thanks to God “for the gift that the Holy Year of Mercy has been for the Church and for many people of goodwill.”

He also offered a special greeting to the sick, and to the delegation of the Italian government who were also present at Mass, including Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

At the end of the celebration Pope Francis also signed his new apostolic letter “Misericordia et misera,” set to be published Nov. 21 and which is addressed to the entire Church “to live continue to live mercy with the same intensity experienced during the entire Extraordinary Jubilee,” according to a communique from the Vatican Press Office.

In a gesture meant to represent the entire People of God, he handed a copy to people from several different states and stages in life, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, one of the larges dioceses in the world; Archbishop Leo William Cushley of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh; two priests from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazil who served as Missionaries of Mercy during the Jubilee; a permanent deacon from the diocese of Rome together with his family; two religious sisters from Mexico and South Korea; a family – children, parents and grandparents included – from the United States; a young engaged couple, two mothers who teach catechesis in Rome and one person who was disabled and one who was ill.

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Francis is here to close the last Holy Door. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YearOfMercy?src=hash">#YearOfMercy</a> <a href="https://t.co/KISBcTI4s0">pic.twitter.com/KISBcTI4s0</a></p>&mdash; Ines San Martin (@inesanma) <a href="https://twitter.com/inesanma/status/800261292296720385">November 20, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

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By Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Following Christ the King, whose regal power is love and mercy, means the whole church and each Christian must "follow his way of tangible love," Pope Francis said.

Celebrating the feast of Christ the King Nov. 20 and officially closing the extraordinary jubilee celebration of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis insisted, "we have received mercy in order to be merciful."

On a warm, late fall morning, St. Peter's Square was filled with an estimated 70,000 people for the Mass, which was concelebrated by the new cardinals Pope Francis had created the previous day.

The pope and the new cardinals first went to the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica and gave thanks for "the gifts of grace received" during the Holy Year. Pope Francis then went to the threshold of the Holy Door and pulled each side shut. The door will be sealed until the next Holy Year, which is likely to be 2025.

In his homily, Pope Francis said that even if the Holy Door is closed, "the true door of mercy, which is the heart of Christ, always remains open wide for us."

The power of Christ the King, he said, "is not power as defined by this world, but the love of God, a love capable of encountering and healing all things."

Like the "good thief" who turned to Jesus on the cross and was assured a place in heaven, anyone who turns to God with trust can be forgiven, the pope said. "He is ready to completely and forever cancel our sin, because his memory -- unlike our own -- does not record evil that has been done or keep score of injustices experienced."

Loving like Christ loves us, he said, means constantly seeking the grace to forgive others, forget the offenses committed and be instruments of reconciliation in the world.

Following Christ the King also means accepting "the scandal of his humble love," which can be difficult because it "unsettles and disturbs us."

Christ's love, the love Christians are called to imitate, is concrete and tangible and is not concerned with personal comfort, power and superiority.

Even in evangelization "the lure of power and success seem an easy, quick way to spread the Gospel," he said. The Year of Mercy was a call to "rediscover the youthful, beautiful face of the church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission."

Christ the king, "our king, went to the ends of the universe in order to embrace and save every living being," he said. "He did not condemn us, nor did he conquer us, and he never disregarded our freedom, but he paved the way with a humble love that forgives all things, hopes all things, sustains all things."

Christ's followers are called to continue his saving mission, the pope said.

At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis signed his new apostolic letter, "Misericordia et Misera," (Mercy and Misery), which a papal aide announced was written to affirm that the commitment to sharing the merciful love of God continues because it is "the heart of the Gospel."

The pope gave the letter, which was to be made public Nov. 21, to a group of people representing different sectors of the church: Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, president of Caritas Internationalis; Scottish Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, on behalf of diocesan bishops; two priests who were "missionaries of mercy" for the Holy Year; a permanent deacon; two religious women; an extended family; an engaged couple; two women catechists; a person with disabilities; and a person who is ill.

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Follow Wooden on Twitter: @Cindy_Wooden.

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