"Do we want to share in this message of life," he asked in his homily, "or do we prefer simply to continue standing speechless before events as they happen?"

There is hope "because from your cross—the fruit of greed and cowardice of many doctors of the law and hypocrites—came the resurrection," which turned darkness into eternal light and shows that Jesus' love is their hope, Pope Francis said.

The Good Friday march in Chicago included re-enactments of the Last Supper and Crucifixion, along with a call to action to prevent gun violence.

Newness comes easily for infants, but a Lent practiced with intention provides newness for the rest of us.

There are deeper, underlying commonalities that join the two holidays.

In liturgically celebrating the truth and power of the passion narratives, however, we must be equally energetic in proclaiming, as did Pope John Paul II on the Auschwitz anniversary: “Never again anti-Semitism!”