Pope Francis also used his Easter message to make an urgent appeal against wars and conflicts in the world. “We saw a lot of bloodshed, a lot of violence,” he told some 100,000 believers in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Like the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, celebrated at Easter, today “our hearts are filled with fear and terror, as many of our brothers and sisters have had to close themselves off to protect themselves from the bombs,” Francis said. .
Easter Fair again with public
On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. After a two-year break due to the CoV, thousands of people in the Vatican participated again this time around.
The war in Ukraine has shaped the celebrations at the Vatican, which for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic can be celebrated in front of the faithful with almost no restrictions. “Soon, a new dawn of hope will rise above this terrible night of suffering and death!” Said the head of the Catholic Church and asked the states to give in. “Let peace be chosen. Stop flexing your muscles while people suffer.”
“Peace is a duty”
“In my heart I carry all the many Ukrainian victims, the millions of refugees and internally displaced people, the broken families, the abandoned elderly, the shattered lives and the devastated cities,” Francis said. He also recalled the great suffering in conflicts in other parts of the world, such as in the Middle East, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, as well as in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Myanmar and parts of Africa.
APA/AFP/Tiziana Fabi 100,000 faithful heard the Pope’s words
“Let us be oppressed by the peace of Christ!” Francis concluded. He said, “Peace is possible, peace is a duty, peace is everyone’s primary responsibility!”
Amid the pain of war, there is no shortage of encouraging signs – such as the open doors of many families and communities hosting refugees across Europe. “May these many acts of charity be a blessing to our society, sometimes degenerated by so much selfishness and individualism. May these acts help to make society more hospitable to all,” Pope Francis said.
Also situation on Middle East topic
The Pope also spoke about the situation in the Middle East, which for years has been torn apart by divisions and conflicts. He prayed for peace in Jerusalem. “May Israelis, Palestinians and all the inhabitants of the Holy City, together with pilgrims, experience the beauty of peace, live in fraternity and have free access to the Holy Places with mutual respect for the rights of each individual,” Pope said.
debate
How does war change our world?
The pontiff called for peace and reconciliation for Lebanon, Syria and Iraq and for all Christian communities living in the Middle East. He also prayed for an end to tensions in Libya and Yemen. The pope expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar and Afghanistan, where “a tragic humanitarian crisis is ravaging the population”. He also expressed his solidarity with the populations of eastern South Africa affected by devastating floods.
In the prayers of the faithful at the Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square, led by Pope Francis, there was also a prayer in Ukrainian: “God give our deceased brothers and sisters a share in eternal Easter.” Arabic, Chinese, German and English are spoken.
Religion
Pope calls for world peace
No Pope visit to Ukraine yet
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Pope’s envoy to Ukraine, ruled out a trip by the Holy Father to the war-torn country. “The Holy Father cannot come in person at the moment. But, as Pope Karol Wojtyla used to say at the time, I was his personal secretary: we will see”, highlighted the Polish cardinal in an interview with the Milan Corriere della Sera newspaper (Easter edition).
APA/AFP/Tiziana Fabi Ukrainian flag at Easter Mass: Pope’s visit to Ukraine is not planned
Pope Francis again sent the cardinal of the Polish Curia to Ukraine this week to celebrate Holy Day and Easter with the people there. “Pope Francis asked me to be close to people, to wash the feet of those who suffer. In Bucha and Borodjanka we walked between the bombed and burned houses as if at a crossroads. There were dead with no name or surname, and my thoughts are with the poor families who are still trying to identify the bodies,” said the Pope’s envoy and alms giver.
“I spent the days before Easter with the people, the victims of this war, who are suffering, I saw the mass graves. About 80 of Bucha’s dead lay in a large tomb in front of us. I prayed. Fortunately there is faith, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to bear having to look at such horror,” said the Pope’s social affairs officer.