© Reuters. Pope Francis arrives for Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
Written by Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis appeared to ask Russians to seek the truth about their country’s invasion of Ukraine in his Easter message to the world on Sunday and called for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in the wake of recent violence.
Francis, 86, presided over Easter mass in sunny St Peter’s Square after the unseasonal cold forced him to skip outdoor mass on Friday – a precaution after being hospitalized with bronchitis at the end of March.
The square was decorated with a carpet of 38,000 flowers donated by the Netherlands on the most important and joyful day in the church’s liturgical calendar – commemorating the day Christians believe Christ rose from the dead. Honor units of the Swiss Vatican Guard and Italy’s Carabinieri police – both dressed in ceremonial clothing – stood by.
But traditional pomp and sacred singing gave way to modern reality. Francis later climbed to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his message and blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) twice a year, addressing a Vatican crowd estimated at 100,000.
There, from the same place where he first appeared to the world as Pope on the night of his election in 2013, he spoke of the “darkness and gloom in which our world often finds itself shrouded,” and prayed for God’s peace.
“Help the beloved Ukrainian people in their journey towards peace, and shine the light of Easter on the people of Russia,” he said.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, Francis has referred at least twice a week to Ukraine and its people being “martyred” and used words like aggression and atrocities to describe Russia’s actions.
He asked God for condolences on Sunday, “condolences for the wounded and all those who lost loved ones because of the war, and for the safe return of the prisoners to their families. Open the hearts of the entire international community to strive to end this war.” And all the conflicts and bloodshed in our world.
As he does every Easter, Francis called for peace in the Middle East, the urgency of his appeal heightened by the recent violence in Jerusalem and the exchange of gunfire across the borders between Israel, Lebanon and Syria.
“On this day, Lord, we entrust to You the city of Jerusalem, the first witness of Your Resurrection. I express grave concern over the attacks that have taken place in the past few days, which threaten the hoped-for climate of trust and mutual respect, and the required resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians so that peace prevails in the Holy City.” And in the whole region.”
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have risen sharply since Israeli police raids last week on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, which sparked outrage across the Arab world.
Problem places
Between Mass and his reading of the letter, Francis appeared in good shape, driving a Bobmobile around the square and down the main street to the Tiber so more people could see him.
In his message, Francis also noted instability in Lebanon, expressed hope that the “martyred Rohingya people” in Myanmar would “face justice,” and called for more aid for victims of earthquakes in February that killed nearly 56,000 people in Turkey and Syria. .
In a section of the address where Nicaragua is mentioned, the Pope asked God to “remember all those who are prevented from professing their faith freely and openly”.
Relations between the government and the Catholic Church in Nicaragua are very tense. The government, which has suspended diplomatic relations with the Vatican, banned outdoor processions during Holy Week this year.