Vita gazette – The end of wars is at the centre of the Easter message of the Pontiff during the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing. “Increasingly strong winds of war are blowing across Europe and the Mediterranean. Peace is never built with weapons, but by holding out hands and opening hearts,” said Bergoglio.

Bergoglio looks out from the Loggia delle Benedizioni of St. Peter’s Basilica and spreads the “Urbi et Orbi” message worldwide. About 60 thousand people gathered in the churchyard of the Vatican Basilica for Mass. “Jesus’ tomb had been closed with a large stone; and so even today heavy, too heavy boulders close the hopes of humanity: the boulder of war, the boulder of humanitarian crises, the boulder of violations of human rights, the boulder of human trafficking, and others,” said the Pontiff.

“Peace is built by holding out hands and opening hearts”

“Peace is never built with weapons, but by holding out hands and opening hearts.” Pope Francis said this during Easter’s “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.

“The way of peace is the way of God”

“Jesus’ tomb had been closed with a large stone; and so even today heavy, too heavy boulders close humanity’s hopes: the boulder of war, the boulder of humanitarian crises, the boulder of violations of human rights, the boulder of human trafficking, and others”. Thus the Pope in the Easter Message “Urbi et Orbi”. “We too, like the women disciples of Jesus, ask each other: “Who will roll away these stones for us?” (see Mk 16:3) – he continued -. And here is the discovery on Easter morning: the large stone has already been rolled. The women’s amazement is our amazement: Jesus’ tomb is open and empty!”. “It all begins from here”, added Francesco. Through that empty tomb passes the new path that none of us but only God has been able to open: the path of life amid death, the path of peace amid war, the path of reconciliation amid hatred, the path of brotherhood amid enmity”.

Pope Francis: “Do not give in to the logic of weapons”

Greeted by loud applause from those present in St. Peter’s Square, the Pontiff added: “Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue to have serious repercussions on the civilian population, now exhausted, and especially on children. How much suffering do we see in the eyes of children? The children in those war lands forgot to smile. With their gaze, they ask us: why? Why so much death? Why so much destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat! Let us not let ever stronger winds of war blow over Europe and the Mediterranean. Don’t give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament.”

The world suffers violence, conflict, and food insecurity, as well as the effects of climate change:

“May the risen Christ open a path of hope to people who in other parts of the world suffer violence, conflict, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. Give comfort to the victims of every form of terrorism. We pray for those who have lost their lives, and we implore the repentance and conversion of the perpetrators of such crimes. May the Risen One shine his light on migrants and those going through a period of economic difficulty, offering them comfort and hope in their time of need. On the day when Christ has set us free from the slavery of death, I urge those with political responsibilities to spare no effort in combating the scourge of human trafficking, working tirelessly to dismantle its networks of exploitation and bring freedom to those who are its victims.”

Easter Mass at St. Peter’s

The celebration began with the “Resurrexit” rite and was attended by Roman faithful and pilgrims worldwide during the Easter holidays. Over 350 cardinals, bishops and priests concelebrated the liturgy with the Pope. The Pontiff then made an extended tour among the faithful aboard the white jeep to greet and bless the tens of thousands of pilgrims who cheered him loudly. The Pope also ‘trespassed’ the Vatican territory, crossing Piazza Pio XII and the first part of Via della Conciliazione to greet the faithful waiting for him beyond the barriers. The churchyard is decorated with thousands of flowers donated over 25 years by the Netherlands. During mass in the Vatican churchyard for Easter Sunday, the strong wind caused the icon of the “Resurrexit”, located right near the Pontiff’s position, to fall heavily to the ground. Vatican attendants immediately rushed to raise the sacred image and make it safe.

Around 60 thousand faithful were present in the churchyard of the Vatican Basilica in St. Peter’s Square, where the Easter mass was held, without a sermon as usual. On Easter Monday, Bergoglio will recite the Regina Caeli. After Friday’s absence from the Via Crucis, Pope Francis presided over the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday evening. He said: “Let us not allow ourselves to be imprisoned by the boulders of death.”