Upon the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the pope also remembered Pope Francis, who died a year ago on Easter Monday.<\/p>\n
On his first Easter Monday as pope, Leo XIV appeared at the window of the Apostolic Palace under bright sunshine and clear skies to lead the Regina Caeli with thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter\u2019s Square.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear brothers and sisters, Christ is risen! Happy Easter!\u201c he exclaimed. \u201cThis greeting, full of wonder and joy, will accompany us throughout the week. As we celebrate this new day that the Lord has made for us, the liturgy celebrates the entrance of all creation into the time of salvation: The despair of death has been banished forever, in the name of Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cToday\u2019s Gospel asks us to choose between two accounts: that of the women, who encountered the Risen One, or that of the guards, who were bribed by the leaders of the Sanhedrin.\u201d <\/p>\n
The women proclaim \u201cthe victory of Christ over death,\u201d while the guards \u201cproclaim that death always wins, no matter what,\u201d the pope said, illustrating two opposing versions of the same event. In the guards\u2019 version, Christ did not rise, \u201cbut his body was stolen,\u201d the pope recalled. From this comes the fact that \u201cfrom the same event \u2014 the empty tomb \u2014 two interpretations spring forth: One is a source of new and eternal life, the other of certain and definitive death,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
This contrast \u201cmakes us reflect on the value of Christian witness and the honesty of human communication. Often, in fact, the telling of the truth is obscured by what we today call fake news \u2014 that is, lies, insinuations, and baseless accusations. Yet in the face of such obstacles, the truth does not remain hidden; on the contrary, it comes to meet us, alive and radiant, illuminating even the densest darkness,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Christ is the good news to be proclaimed to the world, he said: \u201cThe Lord\u2019s passover is our passover, the passover of humanity, because this man, who died for us, is the Son of God, who gave his life for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leo then turned his thoughts to \u201cpeoples tormented by war, to Christians persecuted for their faith, and to children deprived of education. To announce the passover of Christ in words and deeds means giving new voice to hope, otherwise stifled by the hands of the violent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally, he remembered Pope Francis, \u201cwho exactly one year ago, on Easter Monday, entrusted his life to the Lord. As we recall his great witness of faith and love, let us pray together to the Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, so that we may become ever brighter heralds of the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
After reciting the Marian prayer, Pope Leo XIV added a few more words: \u201cI thank the initiatives promoted for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, and I renew the appeal that sport, with its universal language of fraternity, may be a place of inclusion and peace. I thank all those who in these days have sent me Easter greetings. I am especially grateful for the prayers. Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, may God reward each one with his gifts.\u201d <\/p>\n
He concluded: \u201cI wish you a joyful and faithful celebration of this Easter Monday and these days of the Octave of Easter, during which the celebration of Christ\u2019s resurrection continues. Let us persevere in invoking the gift of peace for the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Acest articol a fost publicat ini\u021bial de ACI Stampa, serviciul de limb\u0103 italian\u0103 al EWTN News. Ea a fost tradus\u0103 \u0219i adaptat\u0103 de EWTN News English.<\/p>\n