In his Urbi et Orbi message, Francis prayed for the martyred Ukrainian people, calling for the paschal light to touch the Russian people. He entrusted war-torn Myanmar as well as Jerusalem, once again shaken by violence, to the intercession of the Risen One. “Sustain, Lord, the Christian communities" that "are prevented from freely and publicly professing their faith.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis today addressed the traditional Urbi et Orbi message on the occasion of Easter. In it, he said that with the Easter, the Pasch (Passage) of Jesus, “the destiny of the world was changed.” At a time wounded by so many conflicts, “Let us hasten to pursue paths of peace and fraternity.”

The pope’s exhortation to bring the novelty of the Risen One to the martyred Ukraine, scarred by war for more than a year, also extends to the hearts of the Russian people, to the Holy Land struggling once again with violence, to the troubled lands of Myanmar, Tunisia, Haiti, Africa and all those places where Christians are prevented from freely professing their faith.

Francis delivered his Easter message together with Albanian Card Ernest Simoni, 94, who was subject to penal labour under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha.

Before going up to the Loggia of Blessings, Francis presided over the Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square, overflowing with worshippers under the bright sun.

A prayer in Chinese was recited that the Church may “forcefully proclaim the Resurrection and preserve hope even in pain and death.”

This is at the heart of the pope's Urbi et Orbi message, “for in Jesus the decisive passage of humanity has been made: the passage from death to life, from sin to grace, from fear to confidence, from desolation to communion in him. In him, the Lord of time and history, I would like to say to everyone, with heartfelt joy, Happy Easter to all!”

“May this Easter be for each of you, dear brothers and sisters, and in particular for the sick and the poor, the elderly and those experiencing moments of trial and weariness, a passage from affliction to consolation.”

Noting that 9 April, according to some scholars, is the most likely the date of the Resurrection of Christ, the pontiff underlined a trait that the Gospels identify in all the witnesses at Easter, namely “haste" to go to the tomb and then announce to everyone what they had seen.

“At Easter, then, the journey quickens and becomes a race, since humanity now sees the goal of its journey, sees the meaning of its destiny, Jesus Christ, and is called to make haste to meet him, who is the hope of the world.”

And so “May we too make haste to progress on a journey of reciprocal trust: trust among individuals, peoples and nations.”

The Easter proclamation also illuminates “the darkness and the gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.” Thus, “Let us make haste to surmount our conflicts and divisions, and [. . .] open our hearts to those in greatest need.

“Let us hasten to pursue paths of peace and fraternity. Let us rejoice at the concrete signs of hope that reach us from so many countries, beginning with those that offer assistance and welcome to all fleeing from war and poverty.”

Our haste towards the Risen One still finds many “stumbling blocks” along the way. This Easter, Francis addressed his supplication for the wounded world, starting with the war in the heart of Europe.

“Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia. Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families. Open the hearts of the entire international community to strive to end this war and all conflict and bloodshed in our world, beginning with Syria, which still awaits peace.”

Speaking about Syria, which, together with Turkey, is dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake in February, Francis also said: “Let us pray for all those who have lost family and friends, and for those left homeless. May they receive consolation from God and assistance from the family of nations.”

The pontiff expressed concern for Jerusalem, the first witness to the Resurrection. “May there be a resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region.”

For a country like Lebanon, still in search of stability and unity, he expressed hope that divisions will “be overcome and all citizens cooperate for the common good of the country.”

Francis entrusted to the Risen One “the beloved people of Tunisia, and in particular the young and those suffering from social and economic hardship, so that they may not lose hope and may work together to build a future of peace and fraternity.”

About for Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, he urged “support [for] the efforts of political actors and the international community to seek a definitive solution to the many problems that afflict that sorely tried people.”

Turning to Africa, the pontiff called for the strengthening of the peace process in Ethiopia and South Sudan, an end to violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and mentioned the victims of international terrorism in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Nigeria.

He asked the Lord to support “the Christian communities that today celebrate Easter in particular circumstances, as in Nicaragua and Eritrea, and remember all who are prevented from freely and publicly professing their faith.”

Turning to Myanmar, he said, may the Risen One help this country “pursue paths of peace, and enlighten the hearts of leaders, so that the deeply afflicted Rohingya may encounter justice.”

Likewise, may he “Comfort refugees, deportees, political prisoners and migrants, especially those who are most vulnerable, as well as the victims of hunger, poverty and the dire effects of the drug trade, human trafficking and all other forms of slavery.

“Lord, inspire the leaders of nations to ensure that no man or woman may encounter discrimination and be violated in his or her dignity; that in full respect for human rights and democracy these social wounds may be healed; that the common good of the citizenry may be pursued always and solely; and that security and the conditions needed for dialogue and peaceful coexistence may be guaranteed.”

Francis quoted Saint Isaac of Nineveh who wrote that “the greatest sin is not to believe in the power of the resurrection”.

Finally, “We believe in you, Lord Jesus. We believe that, with you, hope is reborn and the journey continues. May you, the Lord of life, encourage us on our journey and repeat to us, as you did to the disciples on the evening of Easter: ‘Peace be with you!’”

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