Pope Francis at Chrism Mass: The Cross of Christ is Inevitable

Sacred oils set out for the Chrism Mass, 1 April 2021, in St. Peter's Basilica. Image © Vatican Media

“The preaching of the Good News is mysteriously linked to persecution and the cross,” Pope Francis told priests at the scaled-down Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday in St. Peter’s Basilica, but “the cross is non-negotiable.”

“The preaching of the Gospel is effective,” Pope Francis said in his homily, “not because of our  eloquent words, but because of the power of the cross.”

Coronavirus emergency restrictions meant that Rome’s annual liturgy – which every diocese around the world celebrates on or about Holy Thursday – saw only about a hundred priests concelebrating and renewing their promises.