Pope celebrates Easter Vigil: “We pray in the darkness of war”

Pope Francis called for “gestures of peace” during the Easter Vigil celebration. In an emotional speech, he addressed the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol directly.

Easter as a celebration of hope, especially in times of war – Pope Francis placed this message at the center of his sermon on the Easter Vigil. With the resurrection of Jesus, Francis said in front of around 5,500 people in St. Peter’s Basilica, Christians believe that there is certainty that justice will triumph over evil and death.

“The Lord wants to give us new eyes this night, brightened with hope that fear, pain and death will not have the last word over us.”

For the first time, Francis did not celebrate the Easter Vigil himself, but left it to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. The Pope is currently suffering more from his knee and hip problems and occasionally leaves liturgical tasks to others to save energy – but the Pope has always celebrated the Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica himself.

Pope addresses Ukrainian mayor

The Pope delivered his sermon personally, powerfully and emotionally. In his faith-oriented speech, Francis did not explicitly address the situation in Ukraine, but lamented “nights of war” that were riddled with “traces of death” and called for “gestures of peace in this time marked by the horrors of war “.

In the end, the pope caused a stir when he spoke freely to Ivan Fedorov after his sermon. At the invitation of the Vatican, the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which was occupied by Russian troops, followed the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica from a front row seat, together with Ukrainian parliamentarians. Francis assured the Ukrainians of his support.

“In this darkness in which you live, Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen parliamentarians, in this darkness of war and cruelty, we pray for and with you this night. We pray for the many sufferings.”

Pope calls for “gestures of peace”

For Christians, the celebration of Easter, Francis had previously said, means that no night is endless and that even in the greatest darkness the morning star shines. This Christian Easter message was – after a two-year Corona break – staged in St. Peter’s Basilica, which was again fully occupied. Cardinal Battista Re carried the Easter light into the darkened basilica in an atmospheric ceremony and then the room was gradually illuminated. In his homily, Francis encouraged the faithful to spread the message of Jesus.

“Let us carry him into the midst of our daily lives: with gestures of peace in this time scarred by the horrors of war; with works of reconciliation in broken relationships and compassion for those in need; with acts of justice amidst inequalities and truth amidst lies,” said Francis. “Love and fraternity” is Christians’ answer to the fear and pain of our time.

Several tens of thousands of people are expected at today’s Easter Mass on St. Peter’s Square. It is expected that the Pope will also comment on the war in Ukraine in his Easter message.