He said: “Dear brother and sister atheists, agnostics, or those still searching for truth (if there are any listening): the words I am about to address to you are not those of a poor preacher like me; they are from one of your own, one that many of you admire, of whom much is written and of whom, perhaps, many also consider themselves, in some way, disciples and followers: Søren Kierkegaard, the founder of existential philosophy.”
The 87-year-old Capuchin friar quoted the Danish author as saying that “only that man’s life is wasted” who has never intuited that there is a God.
The cardinal said: “Do not ‘waste’ your life! Do not leave this world as Pilate left the Praetorium, with the unanswered question: “What is truth?” It is too important: It is a question of knowing whether we live for something, or in vain.”
After the homily, a deacon and Pope Francis read the 11 Good Friday Solemn Intercessions, which included prayers for the Jewish people, those who do not believe in God, and those suffering from war.
Watch the most beautiful moments of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion presided over by Pope Francis:
The Adoration of the Cross then took place, followed by the recitation of the Our Father and Holy Communion.
During his homily, Cardinal Cantalamessa alluded to the war in Ukraine.
“One thing of which these events have suddenly reminded us: the structures of the world can change from one day to another,” he said. “Everything passes, everything ages; everything — not only ‘the blissfulness of youth’ — wanes.”
“There is only one way to escape the current of time that drags everything with it: to pass on to that which does not pass! To put our feet on firm ground!”
“Easter, Passover, means passage: let us all aim to experience a real Easter this year, Venerable Fathers, brothers and sisters: let us pass on to the One who does not pass. Let us pass on now with our heart, before passing on one day with our body.”
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