On Sunday, April 9th, Pope Francis (86) celebrated Easter in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Per tradition, he delivered his annual “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message to over 100,000 of the Catholic faithful who had gathered in the square and the surrounding avenues.
The pope began by announcing the joy stemming from the fact that, on this day, Catholics proclaim that Christ is risen. The pope noted that the word “truly” in the Easter proclamation “Christ is risen; He is truly risen!” is not mere wishful thinking but that the Lord’s resurrection is a reality.
In Jesus, the passage of humanity from death to life, sin to grace, fear to confidence, and desolation to communion has been made, the pope declared, wishing everyone a Happy Easter.
He called on everyone to remember and rejoice that “the Lord has built us a bridge to life” in defeating death, making it for us “the most important and beautiful day of history.”
The pope spoke about the war in Ukraine, now into its second year. Among other things, he asked for support for “the beloved Ukrainian people.” May the Lord “comfort the wounded and all who have lost loved ones due to the war,” he went on, as he urged the international community to strive to end war globally.
Francis also expressed his “concern” about violence in the Middle East. Attacks in recent days had hindered “the desired climate of respect and trust to resume dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians,” he noted.
Last week, violence in the region flared. Israeli forces invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which was replied to in kind by several Palestinian attacks. Both sides have launched multiple rocket attacks ever since.
The pope also paused to remember the victims of February’s earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, where “our continued solidarity” is needed.
Prior to his message from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pope had attended Mass there. Although the 86-year-old head of the Catholic Church officially presided over the Easter Mass, it was celebrated by Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.
For the occasion, St. Peter’s Square was decked out with as many as 35,000 flowers and plants. A donation by florists from the Netherlands, these were made all the more colorful by the spring sunshine.
In the run-up to Easter, there were concerns about the pope’s health. Late last month, Francis was hospitalized for several days with a respiratory infection. He was discharged last week, just in time for Mass on Palm Sunday. For the first time, the pope however did miss out on the traditional Stations of the Cross in Rome on Good Friday. A nightly ceremony, it was thought to have been too cold for him to attend.
