Vatican City, 5 April 2015 (VIS) – At
10.15 today, Easter Sunday, the Holy Father Francis celebrated the
solemn Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord in St. Peter's Square,
which had been decorated for the occasion with 40,000 plants and
flowers (tulips, narcissus and hyacinths) offered by Dutch florists,
mostly in yellow and white, the colours of Vatican City State. The
celebration, which began with the "Resurrexit" rite – the
opening of an icon of the Risen Lord, placed next to the papal altar
– was attended by more than 50,000 faithful from all around the
world, whom the Pope thanked.
The Holy Father did not pronounce a
homily, but following Mass at midday he delivered an Easter message
and imparted his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the central balcony
of the Vatican basilica. He addressed the faithful gathered in St.
Peter's Square and all those following the event on radio or
television, making a special Easter appeal for the world not to
submit to arms traffickers, recalling the tragedies in Yemen, Libya,
Syria and Iraq, the persecution of Christians in these and other
countries, the conflicts in the Holy Land and the war in Ukraine. He
also made a plea for peace in Nigeria, South Sudan and the Republic
of Congo, and mentioned in particular the poor, the incarcerated and
immigrants, who are frequently scorned and rejected. He then imparted
his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, to the city and the world.
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy
Easter! Jesus Christ is risen!” exclaimed the Pope. “Love has
triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled
the darkness! Out of love for us, Jesus Christ stripped Himself of
His divine glory, emptied Himself, took on the form of a slave and
humbled Himself even to death, death on a cross. For this reason God
exalted him and made him Lord of the universe. Jesus is Lord! By His
death and resurrection, Jesus shows everyone the way to life and
happiness: this way is humility, which involves humiliation. This is
the path which leads to glory. Only those who humble themselves can
go towards the 'things that are above', towards God. The proud look
'down from above'; the humble look 'up from below'.
“On Easter morning, alerted by the
women, Peter and John ran to the tomb. They found it open and empty.
Then they drew near and 'bent down' in order to enter it. To enter
into the mystery, we need to 'bend down', to abase ourselves. Only
those who abase themselves understand the glorification of Jesus and
are able to follow him on his way. The world proposes that we put
ourselves forward at all costs, that we compete, that we prevail. But
Christians, by the grace of Christ, dead and risen, are the seeds of
another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another,
not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help. This is
not weakness, but true strength! Those who bear within them God’s
power, His love and His justice, do not need to employ violence; they
speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love.
“From the risen Lord we ask today the
grace not to succumb to the pride which fuels violence and war, but
to have the humble courage of pardon and peace. We ask Jesus, the
Victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and
sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer
injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence. There are so
many of them. We ask for peace, above all, for beloved Syria and
Iraq, that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations may
be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved
countries. May the international community not stand by before the
immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries and the
drama of the numerous refugees. We pray for peace for all the peoples
of the Holy Land. May the culture of encounter grow between Israelis
and Palestinians and the peace process be resumed, in order to end
years of suffering and division.
“We implore peace for Libya, that the
present absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence may
cease, and that all concerned for the future of the country may work
to favour reconciliation and to build a fraternal society respectful
of the dignity of the person. For Yemen too we express our hope for
the growth of a common desire for peace, for the good of the entire
people. At the same time, in hope we entrust to the merciful Lord
the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a
definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world. We ask the
risen Lord for the gift of peace for Nigeria, South Sudan and for the
various areas of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. May
constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who
lost their lives – I think in particular of the young people who
were killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya –,
for all who have been kidnapped, and for those forced to abandon
their homes and their loved ones.
“May the Lord’s resurrection bring
light to beloved Ukraine, especially to those who have endured the
violence of the conflict of recent months. May the country rediscover
peace and hope thanks to the commitment of all interested parties. We
ask for peace and freedom for the many men and women subject to old
and new forms of enslavement on the part of criminal individuals and
groups. Peace and liberty for the victims of drug dealers, who are
often allied with the powers who ought to defend peace and harmony in
the human family. And we ask peace for this world subjected to arms
dealers, who profit from the blood of men and women.
“May the marginalised, the
imprisoned, the poor and the migrants who are so often rejected,
maltreated and discarded, the sick and the suffering, children,
especially those who are victims of violence; all who today are in
mourning, and all men and women of goodwill, hear the consoling and
healing voice of the Lord Jesus: 'Peace to you!'. 'Fear not, for I am
risen and I shall always be with you'.
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