VATICAN CITY - Continuing to invite Vatican employees to
morning Mass, Pope Francis told the head of the Vatican
health service and members of the photography staff of the
Vatican newspaper to keep in mind throughout Holy Week just
how patient God is.
"The patience of God is a mystery," Pope Francis said in his
homily March 25 at the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he is
staying. "We do so many things, but he is patient."
The pope said the liturgies marking Jesus' Last Supper, his
passion and death and his resurrection are a perfect time for
each person to consider "How patient has Jesus been with me
in my life? Just this. And then the words will rise from our
hearts: 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your patience.'"
According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis focused on the
Gospel story in which Judas criticizes Lazarus' sister Mary
for anointing Jesus' feet with perfume that could have been
sold and the proceeds given to the poor. The Gospel says
Judas was not really interested in the poor, but in having
the money at hand so he could steal it.
But, the pope said, "Jesus did not say, 'You are a thief.'"
Instead, "he was patient with Judas, trying to draw him
closer through patience, his love. During Holy Week, we would
do well to think of the patience of God, the patience that
God has with each one of us, with our weaknesses, our sins."
The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, reported March
25 that among those at the Mass were: Giovanni Maria Vian,
the paper's editor; members of the paper's photographic
service; and Dr. Patrizio Polisca, head of the Vatican health
service, along with members of his family.
Pope Francis' 7 a.m. Mass March 23 also was celebrated with
Vatican workers, including the nuns who operate the Vatican
switchboard and those who work in the Vatican greenhouse.
In his homily, the pope commented on the words of Caiphas' in
the Gospel of John that it would be better for one man,
Jesus, to die than for the whole people to suffer.
Jesus died for his people and for all people, the pope said.
But that affirmation should not be understood only
collectively. Jesus died for each and every person, and each
person must then come to faith and to recognize that out of
love, Jesus died for his or her sins.
On March 22, dressed in orange safety vests, green jumpsuits
or other workers' attire, Vatican gardeners, garbage
collectors and cleaning crews joined the pope for the 7 a.m.
Mass.
Usually in the Vatican, "we're the invisible ones," Luciano
Cecchetti, coordinator of the Vatican gardeners and
sanitation workers, told Vatican Radio after the Mass.
"To find ourselves before the Holy Father, at a Mass for us,
is something that doesn't happen every day. I turned and
looked at the faces of the employees: We all left there
misty-eyed," he said.
After the Mass, there was time for private prayers. Pope
Francis joined the others, going to a seat in the last row of
chairs in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he
is staying.
Before the employees headed back to work, Pope Francis
greeted each of one of them.
Almost all of the gardeners, Cecchetti said, offered to give
the pope a guided visit of the Vatican Gardens.
"He didn't say no," he said.