VATICAN CITY, APR 23, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul dedicated the catechesis of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square to the Easter Octave, the days following Easter Sunday when the Church proclaims with great joy and hymns of praise and thanksgiving, that Jesus, through His death and resurrection, "freed man from the slavery of evil and sin."
The Pope pointed out that "Jesus appeared numerous times after His resurrection to the disciples," noting that "the Evangelist John, in particular, underscored the first words of the Risen Lord to His disciples. 'Peace to you'. ... This expression, 'peace to you', 'shalom' in Hebrew, contains and summarizes, in a certain way, the Easter message."
"Peace is born of a profound renewal in the hearts of men," the Holy Father explained. "It is not therefore the result of human efforts nor can it be achieved only thanks to agreements between persons and institutions. Rather it is a gift to be welcomed with generosity, preserved with care and made to be fruitful with maturity and responsibility. As anguishing as situations are and as strong as tensions and conflicts are, nothing can resist the efficacious renewal brought about by the Risen Christ. He is our peace."
John Paul II remarked that the Easter Octave concludes next Sunday, which is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. "With His death on the Cross, Christ reconciled us with God and laid the foundations in the world for a fraternal coexistence among everyone. ... The blood of the redeemer has washed away our sins. We have thus experienced the renewing power of His pardon. Divine mercy opens our hearts to pardoning our brothers, and it is through pardon, offered and received, that peace is built in families and in every other milieu of life."
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