In his customary Easter sermon, “Urbi et Orbi,” Pope Francis denounced the multiple “stumbling blocks” to world peace, including the Ukraine, the Middle East, and worldwide terrorism.
The Argentine Jesuit expressed his “deep concern” over recent attacks in the Middle East in front of 100,000 Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. He claimed that these attacks threaten the “dialogue” between Israelis and Palestinians against the backdrop of resurgent violence in the region.
The leader of the 1.3 billion Catholics named 20 nations, including “Lebanon, which is still seeking stability and unity,” Tunisia and its “social and economic problems,” Haiti’s “serious socio-political and humanitarian crisis,” and Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria as “victims of international terrorism.”
Francis presided over Easter Mass in the open air under a bright sun a few minutes earlier. He then took a long stroll in his “Papamobile” through the alleys of St. Peter’s Square, blessing the faithful in a friendly atmosphere. Francis, whose health appears to be deteriorating and who uses a wheelchair due to knee pain, used the time to bless the crowds.
In front of roughly 8,000 people on Saturday night, the 86-year-old Pope presided over the Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for two and a half hours. He had been hospitalised the previous week due to bronchitis.
Due to the cold on Friday, he had to withdraw from the customary “Way of the Cross” held in the Colosseum of Rome, but he nonetheless presided over the office of the Passion as scheduled.
In the Catholic calendar, Easter and Holy Week—which remember Christ’s death and resurrection—are the two most important holidays.
