By Jjunju Francis
17th April 2022
Christians world over are today celebrating Easter Sunday a day taken n commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary.
The Easter celebration starts with the vigil mass that normally attracts multitude of believers.
At St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Francis said that Jesus has “entered the tomb of our sin” and restored us to life.
In his homily Pope Francis said “Let us celebrate Easter with Christ! He is alive! Today, too, he walks in our midst, changes us and sets us free,”
Pope Francis did not preside over the Easter Vigil Mass or participate in the Paschal candle procession, but sat in the front of the congregation in a white chair.
The pope has suffered from acute knee pain recently which has made it difficult to walk and has led him to cancel some public appearances.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, served as the main celebrant of the Mass. The pope participated in the Easter Vigil by delivering the homily and baptizing seven catechumens.
In his homily, Pope Francis spoke of bringing Christ’s light into days “marked by the horrors of war” through gestures of peace and acts of compassion and reconciliation amid broken relationships.
At the end of his homily, Pope Francis acknowledged the presence of the mayor of Melitopol, Ukraine, Ivan Fedorov, who had been detained by Russian forces last month.
A Vatican spokesman said that the pope also met briefly with a delegation of local government officials from Ukraine ahead of the Mass.
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