Pope's Easter wish: Do not lose hope, the real hope, that doesn't disappoint

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

This Easter, Pope Francis has urged the faithful never to lose hope. "Hope makes you wait, but it never disappoints," he said.

The Holy Father offered this reminder in an interview with Italian journalist Lorena Bianchetti, during a special edition of the 'A Sua Immagine' program of Italian state television channel, RAI1, which aired on Good Friday afternoon in Italy.

Let Jesus speak to you

On this Good Friday, the Pope gently suggests, "Before the Crucified Jesus, let your heart be touched. Let Him speak to you with His silence and His pain." 

During their conversation, the Pope and the television presenter covered a wide range of topics, including war, the pandemic, keeping the faith amid tragedy, and the fortitude of women.

When the Pope was asked what his wish was for this Easter, he spoke about the importance of finding internal joy. Despite all the desolation, he said, we must have hope and experience tears of joy.

This Easter, amid war, the Pope said to ask for "the grace of tears," "but tears of joy, of consolation, and of hope."

"I am certain, and I repeat it, that we need to cry more." He lamented that humanity has forgotten how to cry, saying, "Let us ask Peter to teach us how to weep like he did."  

The Holy Father confided, "One of the things I learned is not to speak when someone is suffering."

Wide-ranging conversation

During the interview, the Pope reflected on the drama of war throughout the world, with particular attention dedicated to the war in Ukraine, which according to recent figures, has forced more than 4.7 million to flee the country, especially mothers and children. In his remarks, the Pope warned against categorizing refugees and migrants into classes or by what they look like, and decried racism.

The Pope recalled that our Lord Jesus was a migrant and refugee in Egypt, while also warning against the "disease of hatred." The Pope also reflected on the "monstrosity" of war. 

Devil seduces... beware

Pope Francis stressed that the devil is deceptive and tries to seduce us into sinning.

The Pope said again not to dialogue with the devil, because there is absolutely no good in him, but that we need to dialogue with people who do things that are harmful because their is a seed of good in them.

The Pope also reflected on the "monstrosity" of war.

The Holy Father cautioned as well against exploitation, which constitutes another "war" which "also destroys," even if it does so without tanks.

'Women are strong'

Women, the Pope said, are "strong."

A mother, he acknowledged, "is capable of accompanying her children to the end." Women, he said, know what it means to "prepare life" and "what death is." "They speak that language," he said.

Flipping through pages of the Gospel, the Holy Father recalled the wife of Pontius Pilate. "She says to her husband, 'Do not meddle with this righteous man.' But Pilate does not listen to her."

Loneliness

The Holy Father also reflected on the many types of loneliness. Recalling the Extraordinary Statio Orbis in St. Peter's Square on 27 March 2020 for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pope said, "I did not know that the square would be empty."

"It was a message from the Lord to understand loneliness well." 

God has been good to me

"Have you ever felt alone in carrying out your ministry?" Bianchetti asked the Pope.

Referring to some wounds affecting the Church, the Pope decried the spirit of worldliness, which he said greatly hurts the Church.

"When it falls into the worldly spirit, the Church is defeated," he said. 

Silence on Good Friday

At the conclusion of the conversation, the presenter noted that it was almost three o'clock in the afternoon, and asked how we should live this hour.

The question remained suspended: Pope Francis, for a few seconds, remained silent.