Pope Leo XIV Calls for a Church Free from Domination During First Holy Thursday The Pope began his first Holy Week as pontiff with the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday at St. Peter’s Basilica, a ceremony where he urged the Christian mission to distance itself from "prepotence" and "domination logics." During his homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that true well-being cannot stem from dominance, whether in pastoral, social, or political realms. "The great missionaries are witnesses to careful approaches, whose method consists in sharing life, selfless service, renouncing any calculating strategies, dialogue, and respect," he said to thousands of faithful and Roman clergy. The Chrism Mass, celebrated in all cathedrals worldwide and marking the start of the Triduum Pascal (central period of Holy Week), commemorates the institution of the sacrament of holy orders during the Last Supper. It is dedicated to the renewal of priests’ vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Pope lamented that throughout history, the evangelizing mission has often been "distorted by domination logics entirely foreign to Christ’s path." He highlighted that the Church’s mission begins with "reconciliation with our origins" and "making peace with the past without being trapped by it." "Love is true if it is unarmed, needs few things, no ostentation, and gently guards weakness and vulnerability," he stated. Leo XIV urged religious figures to recognize that there is no good news for the poor if they arrive "with signs of power" and that genuine liberation requires freeing oneself from possession. "To welcome, we must learn to let ourselves be welcomed," he said, noting that even in secularized areas, these spaces are not for conquest or reconquest. The Pope cited Salvadoran martyr Oscar Arnulfo Romero and U.S.#pope_Leo_XIV #st_peters_basilica #chrism_mass #oscar_arnulfo_romero #joseph_bernardin
