By Charles Igwe
At his general audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV offered a reflection on Christian hope, one of the three theological virtues alongside faith and charity. Drawing from the Gospel account of Bartimaeus—the blind beggar who calls out to Jesus as he leaves Jericho—the pope emphasized the importance of never giving up hope, even in moments of despair.
“There is no cry that God does not hear, even when we are unaware that we are addressing him,” the pope said, encouraging the faithful to approach Christ with their deepest wounds and struggles.
Referencing the healing miracles of Jesus, Pope Leo urged Catholics to present their “most wounded or fragile parts” to the Lord—those aspects of life where they may feel “paralyzed or stuck”—and to ask with trust for healing.
He also reflected on Jesus’ interaction with Bartimaeus, noting that Jesus does not immediately heal the man but first asks what he wants. “It is not obvious that we truly want to be healed of our illnesses—sometimes we prefer to remain as we are so as not to take on new responsibilities,” the pope explained.
This approach, he said, is part of how Jesus “reactivates” Bartimaeus’ life, prompting him to rise and entrusting him with the agency to move forward. According to the pope, the blind man is not only seeking physical sight but also the restoration of his dignity.
“To look upward, one must lift one’s head,” the pope said, adding that many feel stuck due to life’s humiliations and are simply yearning to reclaim their sense of worth.
Pope Leo encouraged perseverance in prayer and intention, even when faced with discouragement from others. “If you truly desire it, keep crying out!” he told the audience.
In closing, he emphasized that it is faith that ultimately saves Bartimaeus. “Jesus heals us so that we may be free,” the pope said.
