Christians celebrate Easter – Pope recalls war and suffering in the world

In the face of war and suffering around the world, this year’s Easter celebrations at the Vatican were marked by Pope Francis’ urgent call for peace. The head of the Catholic Church used Easter celebrations to commemorate war, death, suffering and injustice and called on people to “overcome conflict and division and open our hearts to those most in need”. At the height of the festival – on Easter Sunday – 100,000 faithful followed his Easter message and the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

In particular, Russia’s war against Ukraine cast a shadow over Easter, as it did last year. “Let’s keep asking for the gift of peace for the whole world, especially for the dear and tormented Ukraine,” the 86-year-old said on Easter Monday. On ending bloody conflicts, on Monday he cited the Good Friday Agreement signed 25 years ago that ended the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1998.

After more than 13 months of war between Russia and Ukraine, the pope recalled the local suffering in his traditional Easter message on Sunday, visibly moved, and prayed for peace: “Help the beloved Ukrainian people towards peace, light on those Russian people. the wounded and those who have lost loved ones in the war, and let the prisoners return safely to their families.” The international community has a duty to work to end this war and all conflicts that “stain the world with blood”.

The pope was also concerned about the suffering in other troubled areas of the world, such as Lebanon, Haiti and South Sudan. Given the tensions in the Middle East, he called on Israelis and Palestinians for dialogue. He wished for peace in Jerusalem and throughout the region. People need to create trust – then peace is possible.

Many Christians also celebrated Easter Sunday in the Holy Land. Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa celebrated the traditional Easter Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. In a greeting, he joined Francis’ call: “We have had a difficult time of violence, distrust, tensions, political, religious and social.”

This year’s Easter celebrations were accompanied by great concerns about the health of the Pontifex. About a week ago, the 86-year-old Argentinian was treated in hospital for bronchitis. After almost three days, however, he was able to leave the hospital. Many Catholics feared that Francis would not be able to participate in Easter celebrations. After all, he was almost everywhere. On Easter Monday, he once again thanked those who had sent him good wishes in recent days.

But the pope was still ill after his stay in the hospital. He was occasionally seen coughing during the celebrations, and his voice sounded tired at times. And his knee pain, which had plagued him for a long time, also bothered him. Although Francis officially presided over major masses, they were celebrated by other clergy. He followed most of them sitting on a chair.

Every public appearance by the pope during the Easter celebrations saw him greeted by jubilant worshippers. It seemed as if the applause and cries of “Viva il-Papa!” (Long Live the Pope) were louder than usual as he was wheeled through St. Peter’s Basilica during the Easter Vigil or in the open pope mobile across St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday – almost intended as encouragement for the ailing pope.

Because Francis did not make it easy for himself and had left behind a tight schedule during Holy Week. Just one day after his release from the hospital, he led the traditional Palm Sunday Mass. Maundy Thursday followed with an impressive visit to a juvenile detention center, where he washed prisoners and kissed their feet, and Good Friday. Due to the cold, which was unusual for Roman conditions, he was unable to participate in the “Via Crucis” in front of the Colosseum. He missed the emotional message of peace from two young people from Ukraine and Russia. In the atmospheric Easter vigil liturgy on Holy Saturday, after lighting the Paschal candle, he denounced “rampant injustice” and the “icy winds of war”. (saw/sda/dpa)