Dear brothers and sisters, 
Holy Week is the most sacred time of the liturgical year. Throughout these days, the Church all over the world commemorates the Paschal Mystery of the Passion, death and resurrection of Christ, which reveals the depth of God’s love in the total gift of his Son on the Cross. Saint Augustine wrote that the Lord’s Passion is “the supreme demonstration of love, for he who is life itself gave himself up to death for us.”
Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday as we commemorate Jesus’ humble yet triumphant entry into Jerusalem. From there we walk with him along the road that leads to Calvary, marked by betrayal, denial, abandonment and suffering. This is not simply to recall these events, but to unite our heart to Christ’s sacrificial offering that defines the price of our redemption and the immensity of his love. He teaches us that no pain offered in love is ever wasted.
 The Holy Triduum takes our hearts deeper into this great mystery. Holy Thursday focuses on Christ’s gift of the Eucharist he gives us, and the call to humble service. On Good Friday, we venerate the cross and contemplate on the depth of God’s love in Christ, who lays down his life for us. Then, Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil lead us into the radiant joy of the Resurrection, proclaiming that death has been conquered and hope is alive. This is the powerful message of Christ: that love is stronger than hatred, his light conquers every darkness, and mercy is greater than sin. 
The Church invites us to immerse ourselves in the redemptive suffering of Christ and accompany him closely. As we do, let us remember in prayer and help our brothers and sisters torn apart by war, families uprooted by poverty, displaced migrants and refugees searching for safety, and countless people carrying crosses of fear, hunger and grief. Their wounds mirror those of Christ. Yet our Lord made his cross our source of strength, of healing and hope. 
May our prayer, penance and acts of charity transform us to be people of faith and heralds of hope, and grant us confidence that the Lord is with us always. And may God bless you and your families during this Holy Week.