At the climax of the Easter celebrations, Pope Francis celebrated the great Easter Sunday mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The head of the Catholic Church officially presided over the traditional Easter Mass, but it was celebrated by Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
Around 45,000 believers gathered on the forecourt of St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Easter with the 86-year-old, according to the Holy See. The pontiff observed the Mass largely seated. With great cheering, Francis was driven past the crowds in the Popemobile after the mass – many believers shouted “Viva il Papa!” (Long live the Pope). In sunny but cool weather, the place was well filled.
On the occasion of the Easter holidays, St. Peter’s Square was decorated with around 35,000 flowers and plants. Tulips, daffodils and roses were draped around the altar. After the traditional mass on the most important holiday of the Catholic Church, the pontiff will later proclaim his Easter message from the middle loggia and bestow the blessing “Urbi et Orbi”, i.e. the city and the world.
Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
Pope Francis had earlier, on Holy Saturday, celebrated the celebration of the Easter Vigil in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in St. Peter’s Basilica, together with around 8,000 believers. In his sermon, the head of the Catholic Church castigated the “rampant injustice” in a “cold, hard world in which the laws of the devious and strong seem to prevail”.
Pope Francis during the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
(Photo: IMAGO/Alessia Giuliani/cpp / ipa-agenc/IMAGO/Independent Photo Agency I)
One feels helpless and discouraged in the face of the power of evil, the cancer of corruption, “and the icy winds of war.” But Easter encourages people and gives them hope, the Pope said, according to the Ansa news agency. “It motivates us to move forward, to leave the feeling of defeat behind and to face the future with confidence because Christ has risen and changed the course of history.”
On the Holy Night before Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death on the cross. In a solemn procession at the beginning of the celebration, the Easter candle was brought to St. Peter’s Basilica in complete darkness – the darkness was supposed to symbolize life without faith. The candles of the priests and believers were then lit at the Easter candle to the call “Lumen Christi” (Light of Christ). Only when the bells rang, which according to tradition announces the Risen One, the basilica was completely filled with light. The pontiff reached the altar in a wheelchair.
As usual at the Easter Vigil Mass, the Pope baptized eight adults. Among them were three Albanians, two people from the United States, Nigeria, Venezuela and Italy.
The Pope was unable to take part in the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Friday
Francis was released from the hospital about a week ago after almost three days of treatment for bronchitis. A severe knee problem has been bothering him for a long time. Therefore he is dependent on a wheelchair. On Friday he canceled his participation in the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome.
The pope spent most of the Saturday service sitting down. The 86-year-old Argentinian also preached his sermon while sitting in a chair, but said the main prayers while standing. The Eucharistic celebration at the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica was celebrated by the British Curia Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Vatican Divine Service.