Vatican
City, 31 March 2013
(VIS) – At 10:15 this morning, Easter Sunday, the Holy Father
Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord's Resurrection in St. Peter's
Square. Faithful from Rome and pilgrims from around the world
participated in the celebration, which began with the "Resurrexit"
rite—in which an icon of the Risen Lord, placed next to the papal
altar, is opened and venerated to recall St. Peter's witness of the
resurrection. The Pope did not give a homily since immediately after
the Mass he gave his Easter message and “Urbi et Orbi” blessing
(to the city and to the world).
In
honour of the feast, St. Peter's Square was decorated with splendid
floral arrangements. More than 40,000 flowers, donated by Dutch
horticulturists, transformed the area around the altar into a
magnificent garden. Yellow daffodils and white lilies highlighted,
the colours of Easter and the papal flag that represent the purity of
Jesus' sacrifice and the glory of his resurrection. The pink
flowers—delphinium and cherry blossoms—symbolized the light of
the risen Christ who destroys darkness.
At
noon, from the central loggia of the Vatican Basilica, the Holy
Father Francis addressed the over 250,000 people overflowing St.
Peter's Square and those who were following the celebration by radio
or television. He delivered his Easter proclamation—“God’s
mercy can make even the driest land become a garden!”—and made a
strong appeal for peace throughout the world. He then imparted the
“Urbi et Orbi” blessing. Following is the full text of the Pope's
message:
“Dear
brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Easter!
Happy Easter!”
“What
a joy it is to announce this message: Christ is risen! I would like
it to go out to every house and every family, especially where the
suffering is greatest, in hospitals, in prisons… Most of all, I
would like it to enter every heart, for it is there that God wants to
sow this Good News: Jesus is risen, there is hope for you, you are no
longer in the power of sin or of evil! Love has triumphed! Mercy has
been victorious! God's mercy always triumphs!”
“We
too, like the women who were Jesus’ disciples, who went to the tomb
and found it empty, may wonder what this event means (cf. Lk 24:4).
What does it mean that Jesus is risen? It means that the love of God
is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God
can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts
bloom. God's love can do this.”
“This
same love out of which the Son of God became man and followed the way
of humility and self-giving to the very end, down to hell—to the
abyss of separation from God—this same merciful love has flooded
Jesus' dead body with light and transfigured it; has made it pass
into eternal life. Jesus did not return to his former life, to an
earthly life, but entered into the glorious life of God and He
entered there with our humanity, opening us to a future of hope.”
“This
is what Easter is: it is the exodus, the passage of human beings from
the slavery to sin and evil to the freedom of love and goodness.
Because God is life, life alone, and we are his glory, the living
person.”
“Dear
brothers and sisters, Christ died and rose once for all time and for
everyone, but the power of the Resurrection, this passing from the
slavery to evil to the freedom of goodness, must be accomplished in
every age, in our concrete existence, in our everyday lives. How many
deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross! Above all, the
desert within, when are lacking love for God and neighbour, when we
fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the Creator has
given us and continues to give us. God’s mercy can make even the
driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez
37:1-14).”
“So
this is the invitation that I address to everyone: Let us accept the
grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy!
Let us be loved by Jesus! Let us enable the power of his love to
transform our lives too and let us become agents of this mercy,
channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation
and make justice and peace flourish.”
“And
so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change
hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes,
Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the
world.”
“Peace
for the Middle East, in particular between Israelis and Palestinians
who struggle to find the road of agreement: that they may willingly
and courageously resume negotiations to end a conflict that has
lasted all too long. Peace in Iraq: that every act of violence may
end. And above all for dear Syria, for its people torn by conflict
and for the many refugees who await help and comfort. How much blood
has been shed! And how much suffering must there still be before a
political solution to the crisis will be found?”
“Peace
for Africa, still the scene of bloody conflicts. In Mali: may unity
and stability be restored. In Nigeria, where attacks sadly continue,
gravely threatening the lives of many innocent people, and where
great numbers of persons, including children, are held hostage by
terrorist groups. Peace in the East of the Democratic Republic of
Congo and in the Central African Republic where many have been forced
to leave their homes and continue to live in fear.”
“Peace
in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be
overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow.”
“Peace
in the whole world, still divided by greed looking for easy gain,
wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family,
selfishness that continues in human trafficking, the most extensive
form of slavery in this twenty-first century. Human trafficking is
precisely the most extensive form of slavery in this twenty-first
century! Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to
drug trafficking and by the iniquitous exploitation of natural
resources! Peace to this our Earth! Made the risen Jesus bring
comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible
guardians of creation.”
“Dear
brothers and sisters, to all of you who are listening to me, from
Rome and from all over of the world, I address the invitation of the
Psalm: 'Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for his mercy endures
for ever. Let Israel say: “His mercy endures forever”.' (Ps
118:1-2).”
“Dear
brothers and sisters who have come from all over the world to this
Square, the heart of Christianity and to all of you joining us via
the media, I repeat my wishes for a happy Easter! Bring to your
families and your nations the message of joy, of hope, and of peace
that every year, on this day, is powerfully renewed. May the Risen
Lord, who defeated sin and death, sustain us all especially the
weakest and those most in need. Thank you for your presence and the
witness of your faith. A thought and special thanks for the gift of
these beautiful flowers that come from the Netherlands. I
affectionately repeat to all of you: May the Risen Christ guide all
of you and all of humanity on the paths of justice, love, and peace!”
Then,
in Latin, Pope Francis imparted the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.