The “rock” of our faith is not found in “wise and persuasive words,”
Pope Francis said, but rather in the “living word” which is Christ's
death and resurrection.
Human history culminating in Christ's coming was the main focus of the
Pope's homily for Mass, celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica on behalf
of all cardinals and bishops who have died over the last twelve months.
Jesus' death and resurrection, said Pope Francis, “represents the
culmination of the entire journey: it is the event of the resurrection
which responds to the people of God's long search, to the search of
every man and all of humanity.”
“Each of us is invited to enter into this event,” he continued. Like
Mary, the women, and the centurion, we are first called to be before the
Cross. There, we are to “listen to Jesus' cry, and his last breath, and
finally the silence,” which continues until Holy Saturday. After that,
the Holy Father continued, “we are called to go to the tomb,” and hear
the words: “He is risen. He is not here”.
The answer, the “foundation, the rock” lies here, Pope Francis said, “in
the living word of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus,” not in “wise
persuasive arguments.”
The Holy Father recalled the words of Saint Paul, saying if Jesus is
“not risen, then our faith is empty and inconsistent. However, since he
is Risen, in fact, and He is the Resurrection, therefore our faith is
full of truth and eternal life.”
“Thanks to the Word of God,” the Pope said, reflecting on the readings
for the Mass of suffrage, “this celebration is illuminated by faith in
the Resurrection.”
“All of Divine Revelation is the fruit of dialogue between God and His
people,” the Holy Father said, and “faith in the Resurrection is tied to
this dialogue,” accompanying God's people throughout history.
It is no wonder, he added, that a mystery as decisive and “superhuman”
as the Resurrection necessitated the lengthy journey ending with Jesus
Christ.
Jesus can say he is the “resurrection and the life,” Pope Francis
continued, because in Him the mystery is not only fully revealed, it is
actualized, and for the first time becomes a “definitive reality.”
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis recalled the cardinals and bishops
who have died over the past year.
“Our prayer is enriched by sentiments, memories, gratitude for the
witness of persons we knew, with whom we shared the service of the
Church,” he said.
Pope Francis closed his homily by entrusting the departed to the “gaze
of the Heavenly Father” and the intercession of Mary.
“Together with the faithful who have served here on earth, may they
delight in the Joy of the New Jerusalem.”
The release of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s note, Mater Populi Fidelis , on November 4, 2025, seems to have sparked some immediate and widespread confusion, driven largely by sensationalist headlines from secular sources. In response to requests, particularly surrounding a potential Fifth Marian Dogma of Spiritual Maternity , the DDF addressed the usage of titles like Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix. Unfortunately, this has led to a large contingent online and in the media claiming that the Church has "tossed out" centuries of doctrine, with some outside the Church even proclaiming a "victory" over Catholic teaching (This may be the saddest part of it all, that we as Christians, are "competing" with each other). It is essential to understand that this doctrinal note is fundamentally about titles and clarity, not doctrine and change according to the Vatican News. The true teachings regarding Mary's unique role in salvation remain inviolabl...