In his Urbi et Orbi Easter message, Francis called for a general prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, along with a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. He noted that “the path of reconciliation in the midst of hatred” begins from the Jesus’s tomb. His thoughts also turned to Myanmar, “torn for years now by internal conflicts,” and to children unborn because of abortion. May Christ who “has set us free” also remove the “stone of human trafficking” and free its victims.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – As he does every year, Pope Francis today delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi Easter message at noon from the Loggia of Blessings of the Vatican Basilica after presiding over the solemn Mass in the churchyard, in front of tens of thousands of faithful gathered in the square.

In his address, the pontiff called on today's world, burdened by the heavy stones of wars and other tragedies that stifle all hope, to come back and look to the Risen One who, alone, can sweep them away with the power of his forgiveness.

“Today too,” Francis explained, “great stones, heavy stones, block the hopes of humanity: the stone of war, the stone of humanitarian crises, the stone of human rights violations, the stone of human trafficking, and other stones as well.”

Yet, the discovery on Easter morning is that that the big stone has already been rolled over: the tomb of Jesus is open and empty. “From this, everything begins anew!” Francis said.

“A new path leads through that empty tomb: the path that none of us, but God alone, could open: the path of life in the midst of death, the path of peace in the midst of war, the path of reconciliation in the midst of hatred, the path of fraternity in the midst of hostility.”

The Risen One “opens that path, humanly impossible, because he alone takes away the sin of the world and forgives us our sins. For without God’s forgiveness, that stone cannot be removed. Without the forgiveness of sins, there is no overcoming the barriers of prejudice, mutual recrimination, the presumption that we are always right and others wrong. Only the risen Christ, by granting us the forgiveness of our sins, opens the way for a renewed world.”

With this in mind, Pope Francis turned to look again this Easter at the world, starting with Jerusalem, scene of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, and today also the face of the victims of the many conflicts that are underway in the world.

“May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions.  In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!”

“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on 7 October last and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip.”

“Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children. How much suffering we see in the eyes of the children: the children in those lands at war have forgotten how to smile! With those eyes, they ask us: Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity; war is always a defeat!”

Following this logic, he calls on people not to give up and bow to the increasingly strong winds of war that are blowing across Europe and the Mediterranean.

“Let us not yield to the logic of weapons and rearming,” he warned. “Peace is never made with arms, but with outstretched hands and open hearts.”

Yet, the glorious body of the Risen One also bears many other wounds. Francis cites Syria, now forgotten after 13 years of war. “So many deaths and disappearances, so much poverty and destruction, call for a response on the part of everyone, and of the international community.”

He then turned to Lebanon, whose institutional crisis is also economic and social, “now aggravated by the hostilities on its border with Israel.”

The pontiff also encouraged talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, “so that, with the support of the international community, they can pursue dialogue, assist the displaced, respect the places of worship of the various religious confessions, and arrive as soon as possible at a definitive peace agreement.”

The Pope also called upon the Lord to give hope to all those “who in other parts of the world are suffering from violence, conflict, food insecurity and the effects of climate change.”

In appealing to the Risen One, he said: “May the Lord grant consolation to the victims of terrorism in all its forms. Let us pray for all those who have lost their lives and implore the repentance and conversion of the perpetrators of those crimes.”

Turning to Asia, Francis mentioned the wounds of Myanmar. To the One who conquered death, he asks that He “grant consolation and strength to the Rohingya, beset by a grave humanitarian crisis, and open a path to reconciliation in Myanmar, torn for years now by internal conflicts, so that every logic of violence may be definitively abandoned.”

As he encouraged ongoing talks in the Western Balkans, he also did not forget Haiti, once again on its knees due to violence, as well as the many wounds on the African continent, from Sudan to Mozambique’s Cape Delgado, as well as the communities suffering from drought.

To the Risen One, the Pope entrusted migrants and those who are going through a period of economic hardship. “May Christ guide all persons of good will to unite themselves in solidarity”.

On the day that celebrates life, his thoughts also turn to all those situations in which the precious gift of life is despised. “How many children cannot even be born? How many die of hunger and are deprived of essential care or are victims of abuse and violence?  How many lives are made objects of trafficking for the increasing commerce in human beings?”

“[O]n the day when Christ has set us free from the slavery of death, I appeal to all who have political responsibilities to spare no efforts in combatting the scourge of human trafficking, by working tirelessly to dismantle the networks of exploitation and to bring freedom to those who are their victims.”

Finally, “May the light of the resurrection illumine our minds and convert our hearts, and make us aware of the value of every human life, which must be welcomed, protected and loved.”

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