Overview
- At St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Chrism homily as Bishop of Rome and urged Christians to spread the fragrance of Christ where the stench of death reigns.
- He called priests to detach from comfort, accept real risk, and trust that letting go makes room for mission.
- He warned that good does not come from abuse of power and praised quiet service, dialogue, and respect as the way to meet people.
- In Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich told priests to be sacraments of peace, rejected using religion to justify war, and cautioned against us-versus-them nationalism that drives polarization.
- The Chrism Mass is when bishops bless the oils used for the sick, new believers, and anointing, and both homilies used this rite to set Easter priorities of peace, close care of the suffering, and deep interior change.