Pope Francis calls for renewal and resistance against temptation at Jubilee for Volunteers

Pope Francis marked the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering with a Lenten homily delivered by Cardinal Michael Czerny in St. Peter’s Square. 

Addressing volunteers and the faithful worldwide on March 9, 2025, the pope called for renewal, reflection, and resistance against temptation, emphasizing that Lent is a journey from struggle to redemption.

Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, the Holy Father reflected on Jesus’ time in the desert, where silence became a place of listening. 

“The Spirit led Jesus into the desert, where he experienced hunger, temptation, and struggle, yet also showed us how to overcome evil,” he reminded the faithful.

The homily explored three key aspects of temptation: its beginning, how it manifests, and its result. Jesus willingly entered the desert, not to prove His strength, but to obey the Father’s will. 

However, human temptation attacks from within, causing doubt and fear. “The devil whispers that God is not truly our Father, that He has abandoned us,” Pope Francis warned, urging believers to reject despair and trust in God’s love.

The pope reminded the faithful that Jesus’ victory over temptation in the desert was not the final battle. Even on the cross, He faced the ultimate temptation: “If you are the Son of God, come down.” 

But instead of using His divine power for Himself, Christ embraced suffering for the world's redemption. “Our struggles may lead us to fall,” Pope Francis acknowledged, “but our failures are not final because, in Christ, we are always lifted by God’s infinite mercy.”

The homily had a special message for volunteers, whom Pope Francis warmly welcomed to Rome for their Jubilee pilgrimage. He praised their generosity and recognized their role in bringing hope to the sick, the suffering, and the marginalized.

“In the deserts of poverty and loneliness, your small gestures help a new humanity blossom,” he encouraged.

As Lent begins, Pope Francis urged all Christians to walk the path of conversion, following Jesus from the desert of temptation to the victory of the Resurrection. “From drifters, we become pilgrims,” he concluded, “journeying toward liberation and redemption.”