Fr. Lombardi editorial: "Blood poured out for all"

The blood of Jesus “is not poured out against anyone, it is poured out for many, for all.... We all need the purifying power of love, and that power is his blood. It is not a curse, but salvation." This is one of the statements of the Pope's latest book on Jesus that has attracted the most attention and has been received very well, because it has decisively eliminated the root of the interpretations of a passage from the Gospel which has been used to condemn the Jewish people.

But today, these words come to mind once again as we look at too much blood being poured out, both in Côte d'Ivoire, and Libya, as well as in many other parts of the world. Blood shed in civil wars, internal conflicts in countries which, complex as they are, should try to grow as a human and civil community, and where instead are sown the seeds of abysmal hatred, not only for today but also for the future.

When they see blood, Christians can not fail to immediately think of the blood of Jesus. Our ever-present God is there and sharing the suffering caused by a murderous violence that bring joy only to he who is the enemy of humanity. God continues to love everyone and desires the salvation of every person, of all parties, paying the price of weariness and the credibility of this love.

Is this a useless weapon, or is it stronger, in the end, than all others? The road to the cross and the resurrection supports the difficult task of all peacemakers.