Pope Leo XIV reflected on Christian hope — one of the three theological virtues, along with faith and charity — during his general audience on Wednesday on the healing of Bartimaeus.
Newsroom, June 11, 2025, Gaudium Press – At 10:00 AM today, Saint Peter’s Square buzzed with pilgrims from Italy and beyond as Pope Leo XIV led the General Audience, continuing his catechesis series for the 2025 Jubilee Year, themed “Jesus Christ our hope.” The Holy Father’s reflection centered on the biblical figure of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar from Jericho, whose story of faith and healing resonated deeply with the gathered faithful.
Speaking in Italian, Pope Leo XIV drew from the Gospel of Mark (10:46-52), emphasizing Bartimaeus’ cry, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” as a model of persistent hope. “Bartimaeus teaches us to never give up, even when we feel lost,” the Pope said, encouraging the faithful to bring their “painful and fragile parts” to Christ.
Speaking to pilgrims gathered from Italy and around the world, Pope Leo XIV framed Bartimaeus’ story as a universal lesson in hope. “Let us bring before the Heart of Christ our most painful and fragile parts, those places in our life where we feel stuck and blocked,” he said, inviting the faithful to approach Jesus with trust. He emphasized Bartimaeus as a figure of resilience, noting that despite his isolation and despair, the beggar never abandoned hope. “Bartimaeus teaches us to appeal to the resources within us,” the Pope said, highlighting the beggar’s persistent cry: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Mark 10:47).
The Holy Father delved into the symbolic setting of Jericho, a city below sea level, describing it as an “underworld” where Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem. “Jesus descends to the lowest places to reclaim each of us, like Adam who fell,” he said, connecting Bartimaeus’ lowly state to humanity’s struggles. He explored the significance of Bartimaeus’ name, meaning “son of Timaeus” or possibly “son of honor,” noting the irony of his degraded condition. “In Jewish culture, a name carries purpose, yet Bartimaeus fails to live up to his calling—until he meets Jesus,” the Pope explained.
Pope Leo XIV highlighted Bartimaeus’ stillness, sitting by the roadside while others follow Jesus. “He needs someone to lift him up,” the Pope said, underscoring the beggar’s cry as an act of courage despite rebuke from the crowd. He connected this to the Eastern Christian tradition of the Jesus Prayer—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have pity on me, a sinner”—encouraging its use as a way to persist in faith. “If you truly desire something, you keep shouting, even when others tell you to be silent,” he urged.
The Pope reflected on Jesus’ response, noting that Christ stops and calls Bartimaeus through others (Mark 10:49). “There is no cry that God does not hear,” he said, citing Exodus 2:23. He found it significant that Jesus does not approach Bartimaeus directly but prompts him to rise, trusting in his ability to act. “This is how Jesus reactivates his life,” the Pope said, emphasizing the beggar’s pivotal gesture of throwing off his cloak (Mark 10:50). “For a beggar, the cloak is everything—his safety, his home. Yet it can become a barrier. To be healed, Bartimaeus shows his vulnerability.”
The Holy Father described Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), as a profound invitation to take responsibility for one’s healing. “It is not a given that we want to be healed,” he noted, suggesting that some prefer to remain in their struggles rather than embrace change. Bartimaeus’ response, using the Greek verb anablepein—meaning “to see again” or “to look up”—was interpreted as a desire not only for physical sight but for restored dignity. “He wants to raise his head, to reclaim his worth,” the Pope said, linking this to those humiliated by life’s challenges.
Ultimately, the Pope emphasized that faith saves Bartimaeus. “Jesus heals us to set us free,” he said, noting that Christ does not compel Bartimaeus to follow but tells him, “Go, your faith has saved you” (Mark 10:52). Yet, the Gospel concludes with Bartimaeus freely choosing to follow Jesus, “the Way.” The Pope encouraged the faithful to bring their own ailments and those of others to Christ, assuring that “the Lord will hear us and stop.”
In a poignant moment, Pope Leo XIV paused to express solidarity with victims of a recent tragedy at a school in Graz, Austria, assuring his prayers for those affected. The audience concluded with the recitation of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing, leaving attendees visibly moved.
The catechesis, part of a series exploring Jesus’ life and parables, underscored themes of vulnerability and trust. “Jesus does not force us to follow,” the Pope said, “but invites us to rise, to go freely on our way.”
Raju Hasmukh with sources from:
– Vatican News, “General Audience: Pope Leo XIV Reflects on Bartimaeus,” June 11, 2025.
– Holy See Press Office, “Summary of General Audience Catechesis,” June 11, 2025.
– Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 46-52.
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