VATICAN CITY, APR 20, 2003 (VIS) - In the presence of tens of thousands of faithful in a rain-soaked St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul today celebrated his 25th Easter morning Mass of the Resurrection. At the end of Mass the Pope delivered his annual Easter Message, imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" (To the city and to the world) blessing, and greeted the faithful in 62 languages.
The world's faithful were linked to Vatican City via television and radio. Fifty-four countries and 80 television networks broadcast this morning's ceremonies, with commentaries being given in local languages. Dutch florists, for the 18th year in a row, provided the tens of thousands of flowers, flowering plants, trees and shrubs that decorated St. Peter's Square, many of which were in the Vatican colors of yellow and white. The trucks that delivered the flowers and plants, which were ordered from Holland last October, arrived in the Vatican between Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday. In his multi-lingual greetings, Pope John Paul had special words for the Dutch florists.
Following are excerpts from the Holy Father's Easter Message:
"'The Lord is risen from the tomb; for our sake He hung on the Cross'. Alleluia!"
"This proclamation is the foundation of the hope of all mankind. If Christ did not rise from the dead, not only would our faith be in vain but our hope would also be vain, for we would all still be held hostage by evil and death."
"'Peace be with you! This is the first greeting of the Risen One to His disciples; a greeting which echoes today throughout the world. O Good News, so long awaited, so greatly desired! O proclamation of consolation for all those oppressed beneath the burden of sin and its many structures! For all, especially for the least and the poor, we proclaim today the hope of peace,
of true peace, founded on the solid pillars of love and justice, of truth and freedom.
"'Pacem in terris'... Peace on earth, the profound aspiration of men and women of all times, can be firmly established and sustained only if the order established by God is firmly respected'. These are the first words of the historic Encyclical, in which forty years ago Blessed Pope John XXIII indicated to the world the way of peace. These words remain as timely as ever at the dawn of the third millennium, tragically marred by acts of violence and conflicts.
"Peace in Iraq! With the support of the international community, may the Iraqi people become the protagonists of the collective rebuilding of their country. Peace in other parts of the world, where forgotten wars and protracted hostilities are causing deaths and injuries amid silence and neglect on the part of considerable sectors of public opinion. With profound grief I think of the wake of violence and bloodshed, with no sign of ceasing, in the Holy Land. I think of the tragic situation of many countries on the African continent, which cannot be abandoned to itself. I am well aware of the centres of tension and the attacks on people's freedom in the Caucasus, in Asia and in Latin America, areas of the world equally dear to me.
"Let there be an end to the chain of hatred and terrorism, which threatens the orderly development of the human family. May God grant that we be free from the peril of a tragic clash between cultures and religions. May faith and love of God make the followers of every religion courageous builders of understanding and forgiveness, patient weavers of a fruitful inter-religious dialogue, capable of inaugurating a new era of justice and peace."
"However dark the horizon of humanity may seem, today we celebrate the radiant triumph of Easter joy. If a contrary wind slows the march of peoples, if the sea of history is tossed by storms, let no one yield to dismay and lack of trust! Christ is risen; Christ is alive in our midst; truly present in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, He offers himself as the Bread of salvation, Bread for the poor, the Food of wayfarers."
JPII-HOLY WEEK;EASTER; URBI ET ORBI;...;...;VIS;20030423;Word: 700;
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