Reflecting on the figure of paralysis, the Pontiff explained that in the Gospels it is used to signify, among other things, those situations in life in which we see no way out—where we often feel resigned and hopeless.
Vatican City, June 18, 2025, 3:33 PM, Gaudium Press – During this Wednesday’s General Audience, June 18, Pope Leo XIV once again reflected on the healings performed by Our Lord Jesus Christ. This time, the Holy Father recalled the episode of the paralytic at the pool of the temple in Jerusalem (John 5:1–9), speaking before a large gathering of the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.
Reflecting on the figure of paralysis, the Pontiff explained that in the Gospels it is used to signify, among other things, those situations in life in which we see no way out—where we often feel resigned and hopeless. These are situations “in which we feel stuck, trapped in a dead end,” even lacking the will to fight.
The Lord Heals and Brings Hope to the Sick and the Poor
Jesus went to be among the sick during a Jewish feast in Jerusalem. These individuals were excluded from the Temple, considered impure, but they waited by a pool where, according to popular belief, the water would occasionally stir—and whoever entered first would be healed.
Imagining the sad scene of the sick dragging themselves toward the pool, Pope Leo XIV remarked that this pool, called “Bethesda”—which means “house of mercy”—“could be seen as an image of the Church, where the sick and poor gather, and where the Lord comes to heal and bring hope.”
It’s Easier to Blame Others for Our Problems
Focusing on the man who had been paralyzed for 38 years and complained that he had no one to help him into the pool, the Pope warned that it is easier to blame others for our problems than to take personal responsibility. The man added that every time he tried to enter the pool, someone else got there first.
Pope Leo XIV stated: “What paralyzes us, often, is precisely disillusionment,” which feeds a fatalistic view that “we have no luck” and that the world seems to conspire against us.
“Sometimes we prefer to remain in the condition of being sick, forcing others to care for us. Sometimes, it’s also a pretext to avoid deciding what to do with our lives.”
Let Us Pray for All Who Feel Paralyzed
By approaching that man—and all those experiencing hardship—Jesus teaches us not to be overcome by paralysis or despair, but to take charge of our lives and move forward with the assurance that Christ is the only One truly necessary.
The paralytic must choose how to write his own story, rise up, and recover from the chronic state that kept him “lying like a dead man.”
“It is a matter of walking, of taking responsibility for choosing the path ahead. And this is possible thanks to Jesus!”
Finally, the Pope urged the faithful to ask the Lord for the grace to understand where their lives may have stalled: “Let us give voice to our desire for healing. And let us pray for all who feel paralyzed, who see no way out. Let us ask to live once again in the Heart of Christ, which is the true dwelling place of mercy!” (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
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