VATICAN CITY, APR 11, 2004 (VIS) - John Paul II concelebrated the Easter Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at 10:30 this morning in St. Peter's Square, which was beautified, as has become traditional, by tens of thousands of flowers, shrubs and flowering plants from Holland. Following the Eucharistic celebration the Pope read his annual Easter Message, imparted his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing and expressed Easter wishes in 62 languages.
"Resurrexit! Today you, O Redeemer of mankind, rise victoriously from the tomb to offer to us, troubled by many threatening shadows, your wish for joy and peace. ... On this day of your victory over death, may humanity find in you, O Lord, the courage to oppose in solidarity the many evils that afflict it. In particular, may it find the strength to face the inhuman, and unfortunately growing, phenomenon of terrorism, which rejects life and brings anguish and uncertainty to the daily lives of so many hard-working and peaceful people. May your wisdom enlighten men and women of good will in the required commitment against this scourge."
"May the work of national and international institutions hasten the overcoming of the present difficulties and favour progress towards a more effective and peaceful world order. May world leaders be confirmed and sustained in their efforts to resolve satisfactorily the continuing conflicts that cause bloodshed in certain regions of Africa, Iraq and the Holy Land. You, firstborn of many brothers, grant that all who consider themselves children of Abraham may rediscover the brotherhood that they share and that prompts in them designs of cooperation and peace.
"Take heed all of you who have at heart mankind's future! Take heed men and women of good will! May the temptation to seek revenge give way to the courage to forgive; may the culture of life and love render vain the logic of death; may trust once more give breath to the lives of peoples. If our future is one, it is the task and duty of all to build it with patient and painstaking far-sightedness."
The Holy Father invoked "comfort for the families of the many victims of violence. Help us to work ceaselessly for the coming of a more just and united world. ...You, O Mother of the Crucified One now risen, ... teach us also to be, amongst the incongruities of passing time, convinced and joyful witnesses of the eternal message of life and love brought to the world by the Risen Redeemer."
After imparting the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, the Holy Father noted that, "by happy concidence, Christians of the East and West celebrate Easter on the same day. ... I pray the Lord that all of us who are baptized might soon reach the point of celebrating on the same day this fundamental date of our faith ."
JPII-HOLY WEEK/EASTER SUNDAY/... VIS 20040414 (480)
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