EASTER SUNDAY: MASS AND URBI ET ORBI BLESSING

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 2002 (VIS) - At 10:30 a.m. today, Easter Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection, John Paul II presided at the solemn celebration of Mass in St. Peter's Square which was decorated with thousands of flowers.

Following the mass, the Pope delivered his traditional Easter message before approximately 100,000 faithful from all over the world and imparted his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.

He said at the beginning of the message: "Christ's blessing resounds today, on this most solemn day: Peace be with you! Peace to all the men and women of the world! Christ is truly risen and brings peace to all!"

"Peace 'in the manner of the world' - the experience of every age shows it - is often a precarious balance of powers, that sooner or later turn against one another once more. The peace which is the gift of the Risen Christ is deep and complete, and can reconcile man with God, with himself and with creation. Many religions proclaim that peace is a gift from God. We saw this again at the recent meeting at Assisi. May all the world's believers join their efforts to build a more just and fraternal humanity; may they work tirelessly to ensure that religious convictions may never be the cause of division and hatred, but only and always a source of brotherhood, harmony, love."

Addressing Christian communities on every continent, the Holy Father asked "with trepidation and hope", that they work "so that (Our Lord's) peace may bring an end to the tragic sequence of atrocities and killings that bloody the Holy Land, plunged again in these very days into horror and despair. It seems that war has been declared on peace! But nothing is resolved by war, it only brings greater suffering and death, nothing is resolved through reprisal and retaliation. This is truly a great tragedy; no one can remain silent and inactive, no political or religious leader! Denunciation must be followed by practical acts of solidarity that will help everyone to rediscover mutual respect and return to frank negotiation."

John Paul II then remembered all those "who are subject to misery and violence," saying: "In how many corners of the world do we hear the cry of those who implore help, because they are suffering and dying: from Afghanistan, terribly afflicted in recent months and now stricken by a disastrous earthquake, to so many other countries of the world where social imbalances and rival ambitions still torment countless numbers of our brothers and sisters." He exclaimed: "Men and Women of the third millennium! Let me repeat to you: open your hearts to Christ, crucified and risen, who comes with the offer of peace! Wherever the Risen Christ enters, he brings with him true peace! May that peace enter, first of all, every human heart, the unsoundable depth, not easy to heal. May it permeate relations between all the sectors of society, between different peoples, tongues and mentalities, bringing everywhere the leaven of solidarity and love."

At the end of his message, the Pope wished the faithful a Happy Easter in 62 languages and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to those present in St. Peter's Square and to those who were following by radio or television.

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