Pope Leo XIV: No Cry Goes Unheard by God

Vatican City, 11 June, 2025 : During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Gospel narrative of Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out to Jesus and regained his sight, ultimately choosing to follow Him. The Holy Father used this moment to highlight a vital element of Jesus’ ministry: His healings.

The Pope noted the symbolic importance of the encounter’s location—Jericho—as Jesus began His ascent to Jerusalem. This journey, the Pope explained, prefigures Christ’s descent into the underworld after His death, to retrieve fallen humanity, “that Adam who fell to the bottom and represents each of us.”

Bartimaeus’ name, meaning “son of honour or admiration,” stood in stark contrast to his current state—reduced to begging at the roadside. Yet, Pope Leo underscored that Bartimaeus, despite his physical blindness, truly “sees” who Jesus is and knows how to cry out for help, even when silenced by the crowd.

Jesus hears his plea, a reminder, the Pope said, that “there is no cry that God fails to hear, even when we are not aware we are addressing Him.”

Rather than approaching Bartimaeus directly, Jesus calls him forward. In response, the blind man throws off his cloak—symbolising a willingness to let go of his last security in hope of healing. “Many times, it is precisely our securities that stand in our way,” the Pope remarked, stressing the importance of exposing our vulnerabilities before Christ.

Pope Leo highlighted the moment Jesus asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?” and Bartimaeus responds, “Let me recover my sight.” This desire to “look up” reflects not just a longing for vision, but for dignity. “At times,” the Pope said, “people are stuck because life has humiliated them, and they just want to find their worth again.”

The Pope concluded by affirming that it is faith that saves. Though Jesus does not command Bartimaeus to follow Him, he chooses to walk with “the One who is the Way.”

In closing, Pope Leo invited the faithful to bring before Jesus their own wounds, those of loved ones, and the cries of the lost. “Let us cry out for them, too,” he said, trusting “that the Lord will hear us and stop.”

Courtesy: Vatican News