Pope Francis brings his traditional Easter message “Urbi et Orbi” – to the city and the world – and underlines how we celebrate today the event that gives us the hope that does not disappoint: “Jesus who was crucified is risen”.
By Vatican News Staff Writer
All over the world, the Church is proclaiming the joyful news that “Jesus, who was crucified, has risen as He said. Alleluia! Pope Francis said at the outset of his Easter message, broadcast live around the world.
He delivered his City and the world message in St. Peter’s Basilica, just like last year, due to security measures against the corona virus.
He had just finished presiding over Easter Sunday Mass at the altar of the chair with a small congregation participating in it. The basilica featured arrays of Avalanche roses given by Dutch florists who traditionally filled St. Peter’s Square with flowers every Easter each year, but had to stop temporarily due to the pandemic.
The Easter reality of the resurrection offers concrete, tangible hope and comfort, the Pope noted, but his message does not offer us a “mirage or reveal a magical formula” that we could wish for as an escape route to the difficult reality of the world.
Among them the spread of the pandemic, social and economic crisis that mainly affected the poor, but he also noted the “scandalous” fact that “armed conflicts have not ended and military arsenals are being strengthened”.
Hope that doesn’t disappoint
The Easter message of hope succinctly tells us that “the crucified Jesus, no other, has risen from the dead,” said Pope Francis, adding that God the Father has resurrected Jesus, who accomplished His saving will through our weaknesses, to take the weight of our sins, even our death. That is why the Pope said, “God the Father has exalted Him, and now Jesus Christ lives forever; He is the Lord. “
The wounds that Jesus bears in His hands, feet, and they are “the eternal seal of His love for us,” noted the Pope, and anyone who experiences trials in body or mind can take refuge in them and “the grace of the hope that does not disappoint. “
Hope and solidarity in times of pandemic
Pope Francis went on to say that the risen Christ brings hope and comfort to those suffering from the pandemic, the sick and those who have lost a loved one. He also prayed that the Lord would “sustain the courageous efforts of doctors and nurses.”
He stressed that everyone, especially the vulnerable, needs help and has a right to care, and that vaccines are essential. He called on the international community “to work to overcome delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries.”
The risen Lord is comfort to the unemployed and those in economic difficulties, the Pope said. He prayed that Christ would “inspire the government to act in such a way that everyone, especially families in dire need,” can get help to keep them from falling into poverty, a sad reality that the pandemic has worsened dramatically.
The Pope also referred to the psychological weight of the pandemic for young people, who are often forced to stay at home without going to school or visiting friends in person. He expressed his “close relationship with young people around the world”.
Hope this brings peace to our world
He quoted Saint John Paul II when visiting Haiti: “The poor of every kind must begin to hope anew,” he said while his thoughts also turned to the “beloved Haitian people,” urging them “with confidence and hope to look to the future. ”, and not be overwhelmed by the current difficulties. He underlined his closeness to them and that their problems can be resolved definitively.
Pope Francis prayed for the young people of Myanmar “who are committed to democracy and make their voices heard peacefully” so that “only love can drive away hatred”.
He recalled migrants fleeing war and extreme poverty and that the “light of the risen Jesus is a source of rebirth” for them, as we see in them the “marred and suffering face of the Lord” on the path to Calvary. This calls for concrete signs of solidarity and human brotherhood ”on the part of all, he noted, thanking the countries hosting those seeking refuge, citing Lebanon and Jordan who have hosted so many refugees on the fleeing violence in neighboring Syria.
May the people of Lebanon, he prayed, “find the support of the international community” in these troubled times and persist as “a land of meeting, coexistence and pluralism.”
And “may Christ our peace” bring an end to the arms struggle in “beloved and war-torn Syria,” underlined the Pope, where millions are suffering.
He also pointed to the “deafening and scandalous silence” over the suffering in Yemen.
Looking at the nation of Libya, he noted that there is finally hope for an end to the decade of bloodshed and unrest. In all these countries, he encouraged all parties involved to “work hard” to end these conflicts and “let war-weary peoples live in peace” and rebuild their lives and communities.
Live like brothers and sisters
The resurrection takes us to Jerusalem, continued the Pope, where “ we ask the Lord to grant peace and security ” so that it can “ embrace its calling ” to be a place where “ everyone can see one another as brothers and sisters . ”. He encouraged Israelis and Palestinians to “rediscover the power of dialogue” so that a solution can be found to “enable the two states to live side by side in peace and prosperity.”
Pope Francis also recalled his visit to Iraq last month and prayed that the nation would continue on the “road to peace” and “fulfill God’s dream for a human family that will be hospitable and hospitable to all of its children.”
Overcome the mindset of war
The Pope’s thoughts then turned to Africa, particularly places suffering from internal violence and international terrorism in areas of the Sahel, Nigeria, Tigray and Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique, and prayed that the conflicts could be resolved peacefully through ‘dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation’. and real solidarity ”.
Too many wars and too much violence plague our world, the Pope lamented. He prayed, “May the Lord, who is our peace, help us to overcome the mindset of war.”
May prisoners of conflict in eastern Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, he added, be released, and may the arms race be curbed. He recalled that Sunday, April 4, is International Anti-Personnel Mine Awareness Day and said that these “treacherous and heinous devices” kill or maim many innocent people every year. He also stressed “how much better our world would be without these instruments of death!”
Healed through the wounds of Christ
Finally, Pope Francis recognized how Christians in so many places have celebrated Easter under severe restrictions, sometimes unable to attend liturgical celebrations. He prayed that these and all restrictions on freedom of worship and religion worldwide may be lifted so that everyone can freely pray and praise God.
In the midst of these many hardships, said the Pope, we must always remember that “we have been healed by the wounds of Christ” and in the light of the risen Lord, “our suffering has now changed … where death was, there is. live now “.
He concluded by saying, “We pray that the benefits of that healing will spread around the world. Happy Easter to all of you! “
After delivering his Urbi et Orbi Easter message, the Pope distributed his apostolic blessing.