As the Church entered the sacred days of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Holy Thursday, inviting priests and faithful alike to rediscover the heart of the Church’s mission: to be sent, together, as a people anointed by Christ.
In his homily—his first as Bishop of Rome for this liturgy—the first pope born in the United States, and the first in centuries to have lived much of his priesthood as a missionary, reflected on what he called the “fundamental secrets” of Christian mission: detachment, encounter, and the willingness to carry the cross.
“We are now on the threshold of the Easter Triduum,” the pope said. “Once again, the Lord will lead us to the culmination of his mission, so that his passion, death and resurrection may become the heart of our mission.”
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that mission is not reserved to a few, but belongs to the entire Church.
“It is the Christian mission, the very same as Jesus’, not another,” he said. “Each of us takes part in it according to our own vocation… never without others, never neglecting or breaking communion.”
Addressing priests directly, he reminded them that their ministry exists in service to a broader missionary body:
“Bishops and priests, as we renew our promises, we are at the service of a missionary people. Together with all the baptized, we are the Body of Christ.”
Drawing on the Gospel of Luke, the pope reflected on Jesus leaving Nazareth—the place where he had grown up—as a model for all missionary disciples.
“We know that being sent entails, first and foremost, a detachment,” he said, calling it “the risk of leaving behind what is familiar and certain, in order to venture into something new.”
Mission, he insisted, begins not with strategy but with self-emptying:
“Every mission begins with that kind of self-emptying in which everything is reborn.”
If detachment is the first step, the second is encounter—an encounter marked by humility, respect, and presence.
Pope Leo warned against distortions of missionary work rooted in power or control, acknowledging past failures in the Church’s history.
“It is now a priority to remember that neither in the pastoral sphere nor in the social and political spheres can good come from abuse of power,” he said.
Instead, he pointed to the quiet witness of authentic missionaries:
“The great missionaries bear witnesses to quiet, unobtrusive approaches, whose method is the sharing of life, selfless service… dialogue and respect.”
Mission, he added, always takes the form of inculturation—the Gospel being received in each person’s own language and culture.
The pope did not shy away from the cost of mission.
Reflecting on the rejection Jesus faced in Nazareth, he said that misunderstanding and suffering are not obstacles to mission, but part of it.
“The cross is part of the mission,” he said. “The sending becomes more bitter and frightening, but also more freeing and transformative.”
In a world marked by conflict and division, he described the Church as a people called not to domination, but to witness—even in darkness:
“In this dark hour of history, it has pleased God to send us to spread the fragrance of Christ where the stench of death reigns.”
.jpg?sfvrsn=4925e344_3 "20260402T0900-POPE-HOLYTHUR-0402-1816597 (1)")
Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Holy Thursday chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 2, 2026. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
The Chrism Mass marks the beginning of the most sacred days of the Christian year: the Easter Triduum.
During these days, the Church commemorates:
Holy Thursday: the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist and priesthood
Good Friday: the passion and death of Jesus
Holy Saturday and Easter: the resurrection
For Pope Leo XIV, these are not simply events to remember, but realities that shape the Church’s mission today.
“What we are about to relive… possesses the power to transform what human pride generally tends to harden: our identity and our place in the world,” he said.
The themes of the homily reflect the life of Pope Leo XIV himself.
As the first pope born in the United States and one who spent much of his priesthood in missionary service, his vision of the Church is deeply shaped by encounter, humility, and a willingness to go beyond what is familiar.
His message on Holy Thursday was clear: the Church does not exist for itself, but to be sent.
“We are here!” he proclaimed at the conclusion of his homily. “Let us overcome the sense of powerlessness and fear! We proclaim your death, O Lord, and we proclaim your resurrection, as we await your coming.”
The Chrism Mass is one of the most solemn liturgies of the Church year, typically celebrated during Holy Week in dioceses around the world.
During this Mass:
priests renew their promises made at ordination
the bishop blesses the oils used in the sacraments throughout the year
These include:
the oil of the sick
the oil of catechumens
the sacred chrism, used in Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the dedication of churches
At its heart, the Chrism Mass is a celebration of the Church as a missionary people, united in Christ and sent into the world.
Pope Leo XIV breathes on chrism oil, a gesture symbolizing the infusion of the Holy Spirit, as he celebrates Holy Thursday chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 2, 2026. The oils will be used for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination and the anointing of the sick in the coming year. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Subscribe to daily quotes from Pope Leo XIV
© All Rights Reserved The Pontifical Mission Societies. Donor Privacy Policy. Terms & Conditions.
