Fr Marco Lazzaron
ope Francis was undoubtedly the most touched man in the world: millions of faithful in the squares, pastoral visits, audiences, and meetings with the sick, the poor, prisoners, children, young people. At the end of each special audience in the Apostolic Palace, he greeted hundreds of participants, shaking hands with each one. How many hugs! How many handshakes! And he never held back. Why? Because touching is one of the privileged languages of love. Touching means recognizing, welcoming, consoling (and I am not saying it just because I am Italian!). Hands speak when words are not enough; indeed, they often speak more than words. The hands speak a universal language which parents, doctors, priests, lovers and friends, educators know very well.
The apostle Thomas, as we heard in this Sunday’s Gospel, is not satisfied with just learning from others that Jesus is risen. And it is not enough for him to see Him. He wants to touch Him. Like the woman with the hemorrhage: it was not enough for her to see Jesus pass by or to hear his words. She had to touch him in order to be healed. Like Mary Magdalene: it was not enough for her to see him risen. She wanted to hold onto him. Thomas wants to touch the wounds, to enter the crucified body. And Jesus lets himself be touched: He offers his hands. He offers his side. He does not withdraw. Jesus also, in his ministry, touched people to heal them, to bless them, to communicate with them. And after the resurrection, he continues to let himself be touched.
There is a practice of healing with the hands. Even if science does not always recognize it, we all know its profound effect: a hand that caresses, that touches with love, has a mysterious power. It calms. It soothes. It heals. It reassures. How many times has an affectionate gesture relieved us of pain, given us peace, spoken to the heart better than a thousand words.
This is the first Sunday without Pope Francis, and we already deeply miss him. We miss his caresses, his hands, his hugs. His hands touched the suffering body of the world. And the world, touching him, felt loved.
Pope Francis opened the Jubilee of Hope last December, so I encourage you to participate to our Parish pilgrimage which will take place on Saturday 14th June 2025. More info in the newsletter and to book a place please email me at marcolazzaron@rcdow.org.uk no later than Sunday 18th May 2025. Happy Easter!
Dear Pope Francis, you have been touched by millions of hands, and you, in turn, have touched the heart of the world. You have held trembling hands, you have caressed marked and disfigured faces, you have embraced those who were rejected, you have washed and kissed feet, you have offered peace. And we, through your hands, have touched Christ. Now that you are in the hands of God, receive His eternal hug. And you, who have always asked us to pray for you, now pray for us. Amen.
Image – Vatican news- Pope Francis in Vatican square during Covid 2020