The following is the Vatican's official English-language translation of
Pope Francis "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, which he delivered Sunday in
Italian from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica:
"Jesus Christ is risen! Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness!
Out of love for us, Jesus Christ stripped himself of his divine glory,
emptied himself, took on the form of a slave and humbled himself even to
death, death on a cross. For this reason God exalted him and made him
Lord of the universe. Jesus is Lord! By his death and resurrection,
Jesus shows everyone the way to life and happiness: this way is
humility, which involves humiliation. This is the path which leads to
glory. Only those who humble themselves can go towards the "things that
are above", towards God (cf. Col 3:1-4). The proud look "down from
above"; the humble look "up from below".
On Easter morning, alerted by the women, Peter and John ran to the tomb.
They found it open and empty. Then they drew near and "bent down" in
order to enter it. To enter into the mystery, we need to "bend down", to
abase ourselves. Only those who abase themselves understand the
glorification of Jesus and are able to follow him on his way.
The world proposes that we put ourselves forward at all costs, that we
compete, that we prevail. But Christians, by the grace of Christ, dead
and risen, are the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live
in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and
ready to help.
This is not weakness, but true strength! Those who bear within them
God's power, his love and his justice, do not need to employ violence;
they speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love.
From the risen Lord we ask the grace not to succumb to the pride which
fuels violence and war, but to have the humble courage of pardon and
peace. We ask Jesus, the Victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of
our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of
all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and
violence.
We ask for peace, above all, for Syria and Iraq, that the roar of arms
may cease and that peaceful relations may be restored among the various
groups which make up those beloved countries. May the international
community not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding
in these countries and the drama of the numerous refugees.
We pray for peace for all the peoples of the Holy Land. May the culture
of encounter grow between Israelis and Palestinians and the peace
process be resumed, in order to end years of suffering and division.
We implore peace for Libya, that the present absurd bloodshed and all
barbarous acts of violence may cease, and that all concerned for the
future of the country may work to favor reconciliation and to build a
fraternal society respectful of the dignity of the person. For Yemen too
we express our hope for the growth of a common desire for peace, for
the good of the entire people.
At the same time, in hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework
recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a
more secure and fraternal world.
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