"Let us pray today for the people who, in this time of pandemic, trade with the needy; they take advantage of the need of others and sell them out: the mafiosi, usurers and many. May the Lord touch their hearts and convert them". Pope Francis did not resort to turns of phrase on Wednesday morning, 8 April, at the beginning of the Mass celebrated in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta and broadcast live via streaming. Inviting then, in the homily, to look at the many 'institutionalised Judas' of today who, in various ways, exploit and sell people, including family members. But also to the 'little Judas' in everyone, ready to betray for interest.

"Holy Wednesday is also called 'Betrayal Wednesday', the day on which the betrayal of Judas is emphasised in the Church," the Pope explained as he began his meditation. The passage from the Gospel of Matthew (26:14-25), proposed by the liturgy, recalls precisely that "Judas sells the Master".

In fact, 'when we think of selling people,' the Pontiff pointed out, 'the trade made with slaves from Africa to bring them to America comes to mind: an old thing'. And 'the trade, for example, of Yazidi girls sold to Daesh' also seems a 'distant thing'.

But 'even today people are sold, every day,' Francis said. Even today, therefore, "there are Judas who sell their brothers and sisters: exploiting them in their work, not paying the right amount, not recognising their duties".

"Indeed, they sell many times the dearest things", the Pope relaunched, confiding that "in order to be more comfortable, a man is capable of alienating his parents and never seeing them again; putting them in a rest home and not going to visit them". People are 'sold' without scruples.

In this regard, the Pontiff recalled that 'there is a very common saying that, speaking of such people, says that "this one is capable of selling his own mother": and they sell her'. As if to say: 'Now they are quiet, they are removed: "You take care of them"'".

"Today human trade," Francis insisted, "is like in the early days: it is done. Why is this? Because: Jesus said this. He gave money a lordship. Jesus said: 'You cannot serve God and money', two lords' (cf. Luke 16:13). And "it is the one thing," he pointed out, "that Jesus sets at the height and each of us must choose: either you serve God, and you will be free in worship and service; or you serve money, and you will be a slave to money.

"This is the option", but "many people want to serve God and money and this cannot be done", the Pope pointed out. So much so that, "in the end, they pretend to serve God in order to serve money". These are the 'hidden exploiters who are socially impecunious, but under the table they trade, even with people: it doesn't matter. Human exploitation is selling out your neighbour".

"Judas went away," the Pontiff continued, "but he left disciples, who are not his disciples but of the devil. Besides, 'what Judas's life was like we do not know. A normal guy, perhaps, and also with anxieties, because the Lord called him to be a disciple'. However, "he never managed to be: he did not have a disciple's mouth and a disciple's heart as we read in the first reading," remarked Francis, referring to the passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah (50:4-9).

In short, Judas 'was weak in discipleship, but Jesus loved him'. In fact, the Pope added, "the Gospel makes us understand that" Judas "liked money: at Lazarus' house, when Mary anoints Jesus' feet with that expensive perfume, he makes the remark and John points out: 'But he does not say this because he loved the poor: because he was a thief'" (cf. John 12:6).

And so 'the love of money had led him outside the rules: to steal, and from stealing to betraying there is a small step,' the Pontiff said. 'Those who love money too much,' he added, 'betray for more, always: it is a rule, it is a fact'. And "the young Judas, perhaps good, with good intentions, ends up a traitor to the point of going to the market to sell: "He went to the chief priests and said: 'How much do you want to give me so that I may deliver him to you'" (cf. Matthew 26:14).

"In my opinion, this man was beside himself," Francis explained. "One thing that catches my attention," he confided, "is that Jesus never says 'traitor' to him; he says he will be betrayed, but he does not say 'traitor' to him. Never say to him 'go away, traitor'. Never! Indeed, he says 'friend' to him and kisses him".

We are before the 'mystery of Judas: what is the mystery of Judas like? Don Primo Mazzolari explained it better than I did,' said the Pope, recalling the homily - an excerpt of which we report on this page - that the parish priest of Bozzolo delivered on Holy Thursday 1958. "Yes, it consoles me," he continued, "to contemplate that capital of Vèzelay: how did Judas end up? I don't know. Jesus threatens strongly here: "Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!" writes John in his Gospel. "But does this mean that Judas is in Hell? I do not know. I look at the capital. And I hear the word of Jesus: 'Friend'," Francis said.

All 'this,' he said, 'makes us think of something else, which is more real, more than today: the devil entered Judas, it was the devil who led him to this point. And how did the story end? The devil is a bad payer: he is not a reliable payer. He promises you everything, he shows you everything, and in the end he leaves you alone in your despair to hang yourself'.

"Judas' heart," Francis pointed out, is "restless, tormented by greed and tormented by love for Jesus". It is 'a love that failed to become love'. So Judas, "tormented with this fog, returns to the priests asking for forgiveness, asking for salvation". But he hears himself answer, "What has that got to do with us? It is your thing'. In fact "the devil speaks like this and leaves us in despair".

Concluding his meditation, the Pontiff invited us to think about 'so many Judas institutionalised in this world, who exploit people'. But he asked us to think "also of the 'little Judas' that each of us has within us in the hour of choosing: between loyalty or interest". With the knowledge that everyone 'has the ability to betray, to sell out, to choose for their own interest. Each one of us has the possibility of being lured by the love of money or possessions or future prosperity'. In short, "Judas, where are you?" is a question Francis suggests asking oneself: "You, Judas, the "little Judas" inside me: where are you?".

It was then with the prayer of Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val that the Pope invited "people who cannot take communion" to take spiritual communion. And he concluded the celebration with adoration and the Eucharistic blessing. To finally pause in prayer before the Marian image in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, accompanied by the singing of the antiphon Ave Regina Caelorum.

Don Mazzolari's text reproposed by the Pope in his homily

Our brother

Poor Judas. Our poor brother. The greatest of sins is not that of selling Christ; it is that of despairing. Peter too had denied the Master; and then he looked at him and began to cry and the Lord put him back in his place: his vicar. All the apostles left the Lord and returned, and Christ forgave them and took them back with the same confidence. Do you think there would not have been room for Judas too if he had wanted to, if he had brought himself to the foot of Calvary, if he had watched him at least at a corner or turn of the road of the Cross: salvation would have come for him too. Poor Judas. A cross and a tree of a hanged man. Nails and a rope. Try to compare these two ends. You will tell me: 'One dies and the other dies'. But I would like to ask you which is the death you choose, on the cross like Christ, in the hope of Christ, or hanged, desperate, with nothing ahead. Forgive me if this evening, which should have been one of intimacy, I have brought you such painful considerations, but I also love Judas, he is my brother Judas. I will pray for him this evening too, because I do not judge, I do not condemn; I should judge me, I should condemn me. I cannot help thinking that even for Judas, God's mercy, this embrace of charity, that word friend, which the Lord said to him as he kissed him to betray him, I cannot help thinking that this word did not make its way into his poor heart. And perhaps at the last moment, remembering that word and the acceptance of the kiss, Judas too must have felt that the Lord still loved him and received him among his own. Perhaps the first apostle who entered with the two thieves.

(Holy Thursday, 3 April 1958)

The capital of Vézelay

"It consoles me to contemplate that capital of Vézelay". This is the spiritual confidence offered by Pope Francis in his morning meditation at Santa Marta. The reference is to a medieval capital of the basilica of Vézelay, in Burgundy, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, on the ancient road to Santiago de Compostela. On the very first capital, about twenty metres from the floor, on the right as you look at the altar, there is a sculpture that is striking and disconcerting. On one side you see Judas hanged, his tongue hanging out, surrounded by devils. The surprise comes from the other side of the capital: there is the Good Shepherd carrying on his shoulders the very body of Judas.

[Pope Francis, in L'Osservatore Romano 8 April 2020: https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2020-04/per-la-conversione-dei-tanti-giuda-di-oggi.html]