“With deep sorrow, yet with enduring hope in the Resurrection, we mourn the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. A shepherd to the world, he was a man who listened—truly listened—not only to the faithful within the Church but to people of all faiths and goodwill. He reminded us that even those without faith in God could offer their kind thoughts, and he humbly welcomed them.

"Pope Francis was a man of accompaniment, walking alongside the poor, the marginalized, migrants, refugees, and the displaced. His heart was always with those on the peripheries, and he tirelessly advocated for their dignity and rights. His most recent Synod on Synodality provided a roadmap for the Church’s future, one rooted in encounter and listening. ‘Todos, todos, todos,’ he would say—everyone belongs in the conversation, for the Church is the home of all.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Rejoice! The Lord has risen. Today, the whole of Christendom marks its highest feast, EASTER, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behind the great salvation of humanity is the story of the Lord’s suffering and dying for us. His death was the Redemptive Death. The entire redemptive act, known as the Paschal Mystery, began with His birth, encompassing His life, death, and resurrection. But without His resurrection, His life, suffering, and death would be meaningless for our salvation.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Wherever you are this Holy Week, whatever you do to observe it, just do it all with love and gratitude to God, who loved us so much He sent His only Begotten Son, who suffered greatly, died, and rose again for you and me.

All our prayers, fasting, and acts of charity throughout Lent lead to this week. It is a week filled with high emotion and drama—the PASSION of the Son of Man, who suffers and dies a cruel death, only to rise three days later to give us new life. The Passion narrative reveals God's immense love for us and offers hope for our situation. Now, God invites us to embark on a journey of faith, a way of life, or a new level of existence. As Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus, explains: “Being Christian is a path or, better, a pilgrimage; it is to travel with Jesus, to journey in the direction He has pointed out and is pointing out to us.” May this Holy Week be an opportunity for all of us to follow Him, know Him better, and love Him more.

Like the Gospel last Sunday, Jesus brings us closer to the heart of the mystery of His Divine Mercy. He shows mercy to the woman caught in adultery. When the elders were ready to condemn the woman, Jesus showed mercy and did not condemn her. “Neither do I condemn you.” Rather than condemnation, the Lord showed her unconditional love and forgiveness. We can all be confident of God’s mercy no matter how unworthy we are! With the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus tried to win their hearts and minds to extend mercy to the woman, but pride kept them from doing so.