DILI, 31 march 2024 (TATOLI) – “Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One is risen,” was the phrase Pope Francis chose to begin his Easter message this year.
Addressing tens of thousands of people at this year’s solemn Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis called for peace in the world.
“May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions,” Pope Francis said in the Urbi et Orbi message, reported Vatican News.
The Holy Father called for respect for the principles of international law: “I call for the respect for “the precious gift of life”.
He also reiterated his call for “the possibility of humanitarian access to Gaza to be guaranteed”, calling once again for the “release of the hostages kidnapped on 7 october and an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip: “I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!”
Pope Francis said that peace can never be built with weapons, saying that peace can be created by extending “our hands and opening our hearts.”
The Pope also asked that Syria not be forgotten, as it has been suffering the consequences of a long and devastating war for fourteen years.
Pope Francis encouraged “dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, so that, with the support of the international community, we can continue the dialogue, help the displaced, respect the places of worship of the different religious denominations and reach a definitive peace agreement as soon as possible.”
“May the Risen Lord help the Haitian people, so that the violence that sheds blood and tears the country apart may cease as soon as possible and progress may be made on the path of democracy and fraternity. May God comfort the Rohingyas, afflicted by a serious humanitarian crisis, and open the way to reconciliation in Myanmar,” he said.
The Pontiff concluded his Easter messages by saying “The light of the resurrection may illuminate our minds and convert our hearts, making us aware of the value of every human life, which must be welcomed, protected, and loved”.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
