Vatican City, Apr 1, 2021 / 05:00 am (CNA).- Pope Francis told priests at Thursday’s Chrism Mass at the Vatican that “the cross is non-negotiable” when preaching the Gospel.

“The preaching of the Good News is mysteriously linked to persecution and the cross,” Pope Francis said in his homily on April 1.

The pope went further to say that “the preaching of the Gospel is effective not because of our  eloquent words, but because of the power of the cross.”