“And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world.”
On the most important of Catholic festivals, Pope Francis delivered his first Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message on March 31 during the Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. More than a quarter of a million pilgrims of 100 different nationalities attended the celebration.
Peace in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia
Pope Francis began his message thus:
“Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Easter!” He continued, “What a joy it is for me to announce this message: Christ is risen!”
Much later in his message, he called to end a conflict between Israel and Palestine that has lasted all too long. He called for an end to each violent act in Iraq. And he particularly prayed for comfort and help for “dear Syria.” He also mentioned conflict areas in Africa – the Central African Republic, the eastern region of the Congo, Mali and Nigeria, and the Korean peninsula in Asia.
Denounce Greed
Toward the end of his message, the Pope sent out another call to denounce greed and “uncaring capitalism” by placing it on equal ground with the violence and armed conflicts that assail the world today. He was very specific in identifying “greed looking for easy gain” and various forms of selfishness as the root of the ills that threaten the family and life. The Pope mentioned strongly expressed his views on human trafficking and called it the “most extensive form of slavery in this twenty-first century”
Before his final thanks and greetings, Pope Francis repeated the themes of his message:
“Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to drug trafficking and by the iniquitous exploitation of natural resources! Peace to this our Earth! Made the risen Jesus bring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible guardians of creation.”
A Pope of New Beginnings
In his first Easter address to the Catholics around the world, the recently elected Pope chose not to deliver the greetings that have been prepared in 65 languages. The Pope is fluent in Spanish and Italian, but has much difficulty in the English language. The last two Popes whom he succeeded struggled to pronounce the most difficult Asian languages in their Easter address to the multitudes, and the newest Pope elected not proceed with the activity at all. Pope Francis made up for the dashed expectations by going around the square kissing and greeting the faithful. The Pope even accepted a football shirt of the San Lorenzo “Saints” his favorite Argentinean football team from a member of the crowd.
Pope Francis celebrated Holy Thursday service which included the ceremonial washing of the feet at a youth detention center. And he mentioned the “friendship of our Muslim brothers and sisters” during the Good Friday service. His Holy Week duties done for the moment, Pope Francis faces new challenges as he leads the embattled and conflicted Roman Catholic Church into the 21st century.
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