About the man from Cyrene and Joseph of Arimathea.
They also say something else. "A certain Simon of Cyrene", they say, "was compelled to carry the cross of the Lord." We read it, but I want to know how it helps you. "Cyrene", he says, "is an African. Wherefore he was compelled to carry the cross." Perhaps you do not know where Cyrene is: it is in Libya, it is Pentapolis, it is contiguous to Africa, and it pertains more to the East. Even in the distribution of the provinces of the Emperors, recognize: the Eastern Emperor sends a judge to Cyrene. I briefly respond. Where the part of Donatus is, Cyrene is not found; where Cyrene is, the part of Donatus is not found. Manifest truth convicts error. Let him give me Cyrene, where the part of Donatus is; let him give me the part of Donatus, where Cyrene is. For it is clear, Brothers, in Pentapolis the Catholic Church is present, and the part of Donatus is not there. But let us securely mock the pitiable, and pity the laughable. What do you say? You honor this Cyrenian greatly because he carried the cross of the Lord and say he was an African. He is Eastern. For Libya is called in two ways, either that which is properly Africa, or that part of the East which is contiguous to Africa, and entirely bordering on it. But let the Cyrenian be African. Do you consider him blessed because he was compelled to carry the cross? How much better perhaps would another say that the Church of Christ remained in Arimathea? Because that rich Joseph from Arimathea, having the kingdom of God before his eyes, not compelled, not forced, came to the Lord’s cross. When others were afraid, he asked Pilate to bury the Lord’s body, took it down from the wood, attended to the funeral, laid it in the sepulchre, and was praised in the Gospel. Because therefore this pious man from Arimathea exhibited such devotion to the Lord’s body, did the Church remain in Arimathea? Or if you are more pleased by being compelled, that is, being forced to carry the cross, then the Catholic Emperors rightly compel you to unity.