Vatican City: During his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV turned the faithful’s attention to a profound Gospel episode—the healing of the blind man, Bartimaeus. Through this powerful encounter, the Pope reflected on Christ’s healing ministry as an integral expression of His earthly mission.
Speaking in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope recounted how Jesus, en route to Jerusalem, passed through Jericho where Bartimaeus, blind and marginalized, cried out from the roadside. “This meeting was not by chance,” Pope Leo observed. Jericho, lying below sea level, marked the beginning of Jesus’ upward journey toward the Holy City—a path symbolizing His descent into the depths of human suffering and eventual triumph through the Resurrection. In descending into death, Jesus retrieved the fallen Adam—a symbol for all humanity.
Bartimaeus' name, meaning “son of honor,” was ironically contrasted with his pitiable state: a man reduced to begging. Yet it was precisely his desperation that became his strength. “He shouted for Jesus, and though rebuked by the crowd, he did not silence his plea,” the Pope said. “He was physically blind, yet spiritually he saw more clearly than many others—he recognized the Messiah.”
Pope Leo emphasized a core message of Christian hope: “There is no cry that escapes the heart of God, not even the unconscious ones.” However, he added that healing requires movement on our part. Jesus did not approach Bartimaeus directly; rather, He summoned him. And Bartimaeus, casting off his cloak—his last semblance of safety—stepped forward in faith. “Sometimes, it is our false securities that most hinder our healing,” the Pope warned.
Jesus’ simple yet profound question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” drew forth the blind man’s heartfelt reply: “Lord, let me see again.” But Pope Leo noted the deeper implication—the desire to “lift up one’s gaze,” to rediscover not only sight but dignity and self-worth. “Many are paralyzed not by illness alone, but by the weight of humiliation and loss of value,” the Pope explained. “They long to be restored to who they are.”
Highlighting that faith is the path to true freedom, the Holy Father reminded listeners that while Jesus did not command Bartimaeus to follow Him, the man chose to do so freely—his vision restored, his spirit awakened, his purpose renewed.
In closing, Pope Leo urged all believers to bring their wounds before Christ—personal, familial, and communal. “Cry out for those who feel abandoned, crushed, or forgotten,” he encouraged. “Because the Lord hears every cry… and He will stop for us.”