The Archbishop of Panama, José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, called for deep reflection during the homily of Palm Sunday, celebrated at the Santa María la Antigua Cathedral, inviting the faithful to live Holy Week as a moment of inner transformation and not as a simple tradition. During his message, Ulloa Mendieta exhorted to 'truly stop', beyond the external, to question the meaning of life and personal direction. He pointed out that although many people live busy lives, they may feel empty or without peace, so he insisted on the need to make space for silence and encounter with God. The Archbishop emphasized that Holy Week must represent 'a before and an after', a propitious time for change and reconciliation. He indicated that Christ 'continues to be crucified' in situations of injustice, corruption, violence, social exclusion and in the suffering of the most vulnerable, such as the sick, migrants and people in poverty. Ulloa Mendieta also referred to the difficulties faced by many people, such as loneliness, illness or abandonment, and invited the faithful not to remain indifferent to these realities. He stressed the importance of accompanying and showing solidarity with those going through difficult times. The Archbishop also asked to live this Holy Week with active faith, participating in the celebrations and avoiding being simple spectators. 'Let us not look at Jesus from afar; let us walk with Him,' he expressed. In this sense, he highlighted the example of Jesus Christ, who, being God, chose to live with humility and service, renouncing privileges to defend the most vulnerable. Likewise, he warned that the Passion of Christ is not just a historical fact, but a reality that is reflected in the present.
