Following is the text of the meditation by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, dated November 16, 2025:

The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, invites us to read a passage from the Passion of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke. (Luke 23:35-43)

This passage can be divided into two parts.

In the first, (Luke 23:35-38) we see the attitude of the different characters toward Jesus at the foot of the Cross, that of the people, the leaders, and the soldiers.

 In the second part, (Luke 23:39-43) our gaze lifts to see what takes place between Jesus and the two criminals crucified with him.

In both parts, there is a recurring refrain: the leaders of the people, the soldiers, and one of the two criminals ask Jesus to save himself, to come down from the Cross, to show his power.

The Gospel of Luke opens with the proclamation of salvation. This announcement first resounded in Mary's song, exulting in God her savior. (Like 1:47) It then resounds on the lips of Zechariah, who regained his voice upon seeing the wonders God had done in his life, after believing that God truly could free and save. (Luke 2:71, 77) The proclamation of salvation also was also heard in Bethlehem, where the shepherds heard the angels announce the birth of a Savior. (Luke 2:11)

It is an announcement that runs through the entire Gospel, entering the homes of the poor, and working wonders in the lives of so many people.

Now the question is legitimate: what has happened of this salvation, and what will become of it? How can this crucified man honor his promise to be the Savior for every person who believes in him?

If he cannot save himself, how can he save anyone else? ("But the leaders mocked him, saying, 'He saved others! Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one," (Luke 23:35)

Everything implies that the salvation this man could offer humanity ends there, on that cross.

Yet, the different attitude of the other criminal tells us that this is not the case.

He too sees what everyone else sees: a crucified man, incapable of saving himself.

He knows nothing about Him, but witnessing the meekness with which Jesus is dying was enough for him to understand that He is an innocent man, a victim of an unjust power.

So, he asks this man who is not saving himself to save him: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)

The ‘good’ thief asks to be saved not by a leader, not by a powerful person, but by a poor, powerless man who is crucified there like him and with him. A silent and defenceless man.

This, in fact, is the very heart of our faith.

God does not save us by imposing His power, but by limiting it, so that He may fully embrace our weakness and be completely in solidarity with our suffering. Weakness becomes a place of encounter, the ideal place where everyone can be reached and saved, where they can begin again and be reborn with a completely renewed perspective.

However, two things are worth noting.

First, the good thief stands before Jesus acknowledging his transgressions: he does not justify himself, he does not hide, he does not minimize his mistakes. On the contrary, he recognizes that he is justly there, receiving what he deserves for his actions (“We are receiving what we deserve for our actions, but this man has done nothing wrong”. (Luke  23:41)

Well, only from such self-awareness can a sincere request for salvation arise; this is the door that opens to prayer.

Second, the good thief does not ask to come down from the Cross; he does not use Jesus to obtain a reduction on his punishment, however right it may be.

He asks for something far greater: he knows that the true strength of this man lies in his ability to welcome and forgive, and he aims directly to that essential thing.

He asks for much more: he knows that the true strength of that man lies in his ability to welcome him and forgive him, and he aims directly at that, at the necessary thing.

And Jesus saves him, that is, He makes eternal that communion of trust and love born in an extreme shared weakness where He chose to remain there in order to be close to us, even in pain.

+Pierbattista