2016 Urbi et Orbi

Good morning. You join us as thousands of pilgrims from near and

far Rian St Peter's Square, on Easter Day, this, the climax of the

greatest festival of the Christian calendar. Eagerly, as you can see,

anticipating Pope Francis coming out of the central balcony of St Peter's

to give his Easter message and blessing. These events take place

against the background of a gloomy, sombre week in Europe, with the

Brussels attacks on security fears in the aftermath. There is, we know,

stepped up security here, even if it has not been highly visible in St

Peter's Square itself. Now, the Pope, about to step forward onto the

balcony to deliver this, his annual Easter message, in his homily at the

first mass yesterday, he urged Christians not to let fear and

pessimism imprison them. Today, he said, is a celebration of our hope,

so necessary today. The curtains are closing behind the

Pope, as we wait for the delivery of this message. The Pope, just

beginning the fourth year of this papacy, the 266th Pope, a popular

Pope. In many ways, a Pope bringing change, certainly in the mood of the

church, if not yet in actual doctrine. His words are always heard

with great interest, of course. The particular focus of the Easter

message is very much setting global events of all kinds in the context

of the Easter message itself, that message of renewal and hope.

Hush descending over the crowd, the last hour and a half has been the

Easter Mass, taking place. Dear brothers and

sisters, Happy Easter! TRANSLATION: Jesus Christ,

the incarnation of God's mercy, died on the cross, and out of love

he rose again from the dead. That is why we proclaim

today: Jesus is Lord! His resurrection fulfils

the prophecy of the Psalm - God's mercy endures

forever, it never dies. We can trust him completely,

and we thank him because for our sake he descended

into the depths of the abyss. Before the spiritual

and moral abysses of mankind, before the chasms that open up

in hearts and provoke hatred and death, only an infinite mercy

can bring us salvation. Only God can fill those

chasms with his love, prevent us from falling into them

and help us to continue our journey together towards the land

of freedom and life. The glorious Easter message,

that Jesus, who was crucified is not here but risen, offers us

the comforting assurance that the abyss of death

has been bridged and, with it, all mourning,

lamentation and pain. The Lord, who suffered

abandonment by his disciples, the burden of an unjust condemnation

and shame of an ignominious death, now makes us sharers of his immortal

life and enables us to see with his eyes of love and compassion

those who hunger and thirst, strangers and prisoners,

the marginalised and the outcast, the victims of oppression

and violence. Our world is full of persons

suffering in body and spirit, even as the daily news is full

of stories of brutal crimes which often take place within homes,

and large-scale armed conflicts which cause indescribable

suffering to entire peoples. The risen Christ points out paths

of hope to beloved Syria, a country torn by a lengthy

conflict, with its sad wake of destruction, death,

contempt for humanitarian law To the power of the risen Lord

we entrust the talks now in course, that good will and the cooperation

of all will bear fruit in peace and initiate the building

of a fraternal society respectful of the dignity and rights

of each citizen. May the message of life,

proclaimed by the Angel beside the overturned stone

of the tomb, overcome hardened hearts and promote a fruitful

encounter of peoples and cultures in other areas of the Mediterranean

and the Middle East, particularly in Iraq,

Yemen and Libya. May the image of the new man,

shining on the face of Christ, favour concord between Israelis

and Palestinians in the Holy Land, as well as patience,

openness and daily commitment to laying the foundations of a just

and lasting peace through direct May the Lord of life also accompany

efforts to attain a definitive solution to the war in Ukraine,

inspiring and sustaining initiatives of humanitarian aid,

including the liberation May the Lord Jesus, our peace,

by his resurrection May he draw us closer on this Easter

feast to the victims of terrorism, that blind and brutal form

of violence which continues to shed blood in different parts

of the world, as in the recent attacks in Belgium, Turkey,

Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, May he water the seeds of hope

and prospects for peace in Africa - I think in particular of Burundi,

Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, marked

by political and social tensions. With the weapons of love, God has

defeated selfishness and death. His son Jesus is the door

of mercy wide open to all. May his Easter message be felt ever

more powerfully by the beloved people of Venezuela

in the difficult conditions which they are experiencing,

and by those responsible for the country's future,

that everyone may work for the common good,

seeking spaces of dialogue May efforts be made everywhere

to promote the culture of counter, justice and reciprocal respect,

which alone can guarantee the spiritual and material

welfare of all people. The Easter message of the risen

Christ, a message of life for all humanity, echoes down

the ages and invites us not to forget those men and women

seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng

of migrants and refugees - including many children -

fleeing from war, hunger, All too often, these brothers

and sisters of ours meet along the way with death or,

in any event, rejection by those who could offer them

welcome and assistance. May the forthcoming

World Humanitarian Summit not fail to be centred on the human person

and his or her dignity, and to come up with policies capable

of assisting and protecting the victims of conflicts

and other emergencies, especially those who are most

vulnerable and all those persecuted On this glorious day,

let the earth rejoice, in shining splendour,

even though it is so often mistreated and greedily exploited,

resulting in an alteration I think especially of those areas

affected by climate change, which not infrequently causes

drought or violent flooding, which then lead to food crises

in different parts of the world. Along with our brothers and sisters

persecuted for their faith and their fidelity to the name

of Christ, and before the evil that seems to have the upper hand

in the life of so many people, let us hear once again

the comforting words of the Lord ? "Take courage, I have

conquered the world!" Today is the radiant

day of this victory, for Christ has trampled death

and destruction underfoot. By his resurrection he has brought

life and immortality to light. He has made us pass from enslavement

to freedom, from sadness to joy, from mourning to jubilation,

from darkness to light, Therefore let us acclaim

in his presence - Alleluia! To those in our society who have

lost all hope and joy in life, to the elderly who struggle alone

and feel their strength waning, to young people who seem to have no

future, to all I once more address To the thirsty, I will give water

as a gift from the spring May this comforting message of Jesus

help each of us to set out anew with greater courage to blaze trails

of reconciliation with God and with And with that, the Pope ends his

Easter message. Many references in there, both direct and indirect, to

the fact that this has been declared by the Pope, a jubilee year, the

Holy Year of Mercy. A year, as many have seen it with the emphasis

rather less on the rules of the Church of strict observance than on

mercy, mercy being available and open to all.

And now the Cardinal Deacon tells the crowd that His Holiness grabs a

plenary indulgence of the form laid down by the church to all of the

faithful present and also to those who receive his blessing by radio,

television and the new means of cumin the occasion. Let us ask

Almighty God to grant the Pope, he says, many years as leader of the

church. -- means of communication. And peace and unity to the church

throughout the world. The granting of indulgences,

remission of punishment to since to those who meet the conditions for it

following his message today by word. And perhaps a heightened

significance on events here in this year of mercy.

Now we await the Urbi et Orbi blessing itself given twice a year,

at Christmas and at Easter. The Pope waving to the crowd. In his

love of informality the Pope can be rather unpredictable. Everybody

waiting eagerly to see what he will do and say next, as indeed we do.

Traditionally at this time previous popes would deliver the blessing in

60 or more languages. Since he became the Pope just over three

years ago Pope Francis has chosen to do so in just one language.

Instructive always to see what the Pope chose to focus on in the Easter

message. Syria, of course, and in particular highlighting that there

are these talks taking place currently in Geneva after such a

torturous process, placing hope, the hope of Easter if you in those

talks, that they might lead to a fruitful conclusion. Now it looks as

if the Pope is indeed possibly going to combine a rather personal

greeting. With the Urbi et Orbi. Dear brothers and sisters, I wish to

renew my wishes of a happy Easter to all of you from Rome and different

countries, as well as those following us on television, radio

and through other means of communication. May the news of the

Resurrection, together with the warm light of the presence of Jesus alive

resonate in your hearts, in your families and in your communities.

His presence brightens, comforts, forgives and heartens as. Christ has

defeated evil from its roots. The door of salvation is wide open, so

that everyone can find mercy. I thank you for your presence and your

joy on this feast day. Especially I give thanks for the

gift of the flowers which again this year come from the people of the

Netherlands. Bring the joy of Christ risen to everyone. And, please, do

not forget to pray for me. Have a nice Easter lunch, says the Pope,

and goodbye. And a very warm response, as so often is the case to

this Pope, Pope Francis, delivering, as I say, a very personal greeting

alongside the traditional greeting. He remains on the balcony waving to

the crowd as they respond warmly to him.

As I say, it's not obvious, in many ways, that there is a heightened

security presence.