EASTER SUNDAY: MESSAGE AND "URBI ET ORBI" BLESSING

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 1999 (VIS) - At 10:30 a.m. today, Easter Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection, John Paul II presided at the solemn concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Square.

The altar was decorated with thousands of flowers, plants, trees and plants, traditionally donated by Dutch farmers.
At the end of Mass, the Pontiff read his Easter message and imparted the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.

"'Haec est dies quam fecit Dominus', said the Pope. "The day that the Lord has made is the day of wonder. ... 'Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ... were the first to find the tomb empty. Privileged witnesses of the Lord's Resurrection, they brought the news of it to the Apostles."

"This is the day when, like the disciples, every believer is invited to proclaim the amazing newness of the Gospel. But how can this message of joy and hope be made to resound when many parts of the world are immersed in sorrow and tears? How can we speak of peace, when people are forced to flee, when they are hunted down and their homes are burned to the ground? When the heavens are rent by the din of war, when the whistle of shells is heard around people's homes and the ravaging fire of bombs consumes towns and villages? Enough of this cruel shedding of human blood! When will there be an end to the diabolic spiral of revenge and senseless fratricidal conflict?

"From the Risen Lord I invoke the precious gift of peace above all for the devastated land of Kosovo, where tears and blood continue to mingle in a tragic spectacle of hatred and violence. I think of those who have been killed, of those made homeless, of those who have been torn from their families, of those being forced to flee. Let the solidarity of everyone be mobilized, so that finally brotherhood and peace may begin to speak once more!"

"On this holy day, I feel duty bound to make a heartfelt appeal to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to allow a humanitarian corridor to be opened, in order for help to be brought to the mass of people gathered at the border of Kosovo."

The Pope also spoke of regions of Africa "where the distressing fires of war are slow to disappear; to the countries of Asia where dangerous social tensions are far from abating; and to the countries of Latin America, committed to advancing on their laborious and uneven path towards goals of greater justice and democracy."

"Peace is possible, peace is a duty, peace is everyone's prime responsibility!"

At the end of his message, the Pope wished the faithful a Happy Easter in 61 languages.

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