Pope Francis: Easter Urbi et Orbi a message of hope
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis
delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter
Sunday, following Mass in St. Peter's Square. Speaking to pilgrims and tourists
gathered in the Square for the occasion, Pope Francis especially remembered the
suffering peoples of Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.
Recalling Christ's perfect
triumph over evil and sin in the Resurrection, Pope Francis recalled all
victims of terrorism everywhere. "May He draw us closer on this Easter
feast to the victims of terrorism, that blind and brutal form of violence which
continues to shed blood in different parts of the world, as in the recent
attacks in Belgium, Turkey, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire,"
he said.
"The Easter message of
the risen Christ," said Pope Francis, "a message of life for all
humanity, echoes down the ages and invites us not to forget those men and women
seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng of migrants and refugees
– including many children – fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social
injustice."
The Holy Father also spoke
directly to all people everywhere, who struggle to keep faith and hope.
"To those in our society
who have lost all hope and joy in life, to the elderly who struggle alone and
feel their strength waning," he said, "to young people who seem to
have no future, to all I once more address the words of the Risen One: 'See, I
am making all things new… To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the
spring of the water of life' (Rev 21:5-6)." Pope Francis concluded,
saying, "May this comforting message of Jesus help each of us to set out
anew with greater courage to blaze trails of reconciliation with God and with
all our brothers and sisters."
Below, please find the
official English translation of the Holy Father's prepared remarks
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Message of His Holiness
Pope Francis
Urbi et Orbi
Easter Sunday, 27 March
2016
“O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures for
ever” (Ps 135:1)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Easter!
Jesus Christ, the incarnation
of God’s mercy, out of love for us, died on the cross, and out of love he rose
again from the dead. That is why we proclaim today: Jesus is Lord!
His resurrection fulfils the
prophecy of the Psalm: God’s mercy endures for ever; it never dies. We
can trust him completely, and we thank him because for our sake he descended
into the depths of the abyss.
Before the spiritual and
moral abysses of mankind, before the chasms that open up in hearts and provoke
hatred and death, only an infinite mercy can bring us salvation. Only God
can fill those chasms with his love, prevent us from falling into them and help
us to continue our journey together towards the land of freedom and life.
The glorious Easter message,
that Jesus, who was crucified is not here but risen (cf. Mt 28:5-6),
offers us the comforting assurance that the abyss of death has been bridged
and, with it, all mourning, lamentation and pain (cf.Rev 21:4).
The Lord, who suffered abandonment by his disciples, the burden of an unjust
condemnation and shame of an ignominious death, now makes us sharers of his
immortal life and enables us to see with his eyes of love and compassion those
who hunger and thirst, strangers and prisoners, the marginalized and the
outcast, the victims of oppression and violence. Our world is full of
persons suffering in body and spirit, even as the daily news is full of stories
of brutal crimes which often take place within homes, and large-scale armed
conflicts which cause indescribable suffering to entire peoples.
The risen Christ points out
paths of hope to beloved Syria, a country torn by a lengthy conflict, with its
sad wake of destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law and the breakdown
of civil concord. To the power of the risen Lord we entrust the talks now
in course, that good will and the cooperation of all will bear fruit in peace
and initiate the building of a fraternal society respectful of the dignity and
rights of each citizen. May the message of life, proclaimed by the Angel
beside the overturned stone of the tomb, overcome hardened hearts and promote a
fruitful encounter of peoples and cultures in other areas of the Mediterranean
and the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Yemen and Libya. May the image
of the new man, shining on the face of Christ, favour concord between Israelis
and Palestinians in the Holy Land, as well as patience, openness and daily
commitment to laying the foundations of a just and lasting peace through direct
and sincere negotiations. May the Lord of life also accompany efforts to
attain a definitive solution to the war in Ukraine, inspiring and sustaining
initiatives of humanitarian aid, including the liberation of those who are
detained.
The Lord Jesus, our peace (Eph 2:14),
by his resurrection triumphed over evil and sin. May he draw us closer on this
Easter feast to the victims of terrorism, that blind and brutal form of
violence which continues to shed blood in different parts of the world, as in
the recent attacks in Belgium, Turkey, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Côte
d’Ivoire. May he water the seeds of hope and prospects for peace in
Africa; I think in particular of Burundi, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic
of the Congo and South Sudan, marked by political and social tensions.
With the weapons of love, God
has defeated selfishness and death. His son Jesus is the door of mercy
wide open to all. May his Easter message be felt ever more powerfully by
the beloved people of Venezuela in the difficult conditions which they are
experiencing, and by those responsible for the country’s future, that everyone
may work for the common good, seeking spaces of dialogue and cooperation with
all. May efforts be made everywhere to promote the culture of counter,
justice and reciprocal respect, which alone can guarantee the spiritual and
material welfare of all people.
The Easter message of the
risen Christ, a message of life for all humanity, echoes down the ages and
invites us not to forget those men and women seeking a better future, an ever
more numerous throng of migrants and refugees – including many children –
fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social injustice. All too often,
these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way with death or, in any
event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance.
May the forthcoming World Humanitarian Summit not fail to be centred on the
human person and his or her dignity, and to come up with policies capable of
assisting and protecting the victims of conflicts and other emergencies, especially
those who are most vulnerable and all those persecuted for ethnic and religious
reasons.
On this glorious day, “let
the earth rejoice, in shining splendour” (cf. Easter Proclamation),
even though it is so often mistreated and greedily exploited, resulting in an
alteration of natural equilibria. I think especially of those areas
affected by climate change, which not infrequently causes drought or violent
flooding, which then lead to food crises in different parts of the world.
Along with our brothers and
sisters persecuted for their faith and their fidelity to the name of Christ,
and before the evil that seems to have the upper hand in the life of so many
people, let us hear once again the comforting words of the Lord: “Take
courage; I have conquered the world! (Jn 16:33). Today is the
radiant day of this victory, for Christ has trampled death and destruction
underfoot. By his resurrection he has brought life and immortality to
light (cf.2 Tim 1:10). “He has made us pass from
enslavement to freedom, from sadness to joy, from mourning to jubilation, from
darkness to light, from slavery to redemption. Therefore let us acclaim
in his presence: Alleluia!”(Melito of Sardis, Easter Homily).
To those in our society who
have lost all hope and joy in life, to the elderly who struggle alone and feel
their strength waning, to young people who seem to have no future, to all I
once more address the words of the Risen One: “See, I am making all things new…
To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of
life” (Rev 21:5-6). May this comforting message of Jesus help
each of us to set out anew with greater courage to blaze trails of
reconciliation with God and with all our brothers and sisters.
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