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CV NEWS FEED // At the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome this Holy Saturday, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered a powerful homily authored by Pope Francis during the Easter Vigil, focusing on the enduring hope brought by the Resurrection amid the world’s darkness and suffering.
Two hours before the celebration commenced, Pope Francis made a brief visit to St. Peter’s Basilica to spend time in prayer and to draw near to the faithful who were already arriving for the Easter Vigil. More than five thousand worshippers had gathered inside the Basilica and in the square outside.
The homily opened with a vivid depiction of the Easter Vigil’s symbolism: “It is night, as the Paschal candle slowly advances towards the altar. It is night, when the chant of the Easter Proclamation Exsultet fills the Basilica. Pope Francis, through Cardinal Re, reflected on the Gospel account of the Resurrection, noting, “The divine light of the Resurrection begins to shine and the Lord’s Passover from death to life takes place as the sun is about to rise. The first light of dawn reveals that the great stone placed before Jesus’ tomb has been rolled away, as a few women, dressed in mourning, make their way to the tomb.”
The Pope’s message emphasized that the Resurrection is not a dramatic spectacle, but a quiet, persistent light that “illumines our path one step at a time; quietly, it breaks through the darkness of history and shines in our hearts, calling for the response of a humble faith, devoid of all triumphalism.”
He urged the faithful not to see Easter as an end to all struggles, but as “little seeds of light that slowly and silently come to take root in our hearts, at times still prey to darkness and unbelief.”
Pope Francis challenged the notion that the Resurrection resolves all problems instantly, warning against “a disembodied piety that wrongly imagines that the Lord’s Resurrection resolves everything as if by magic.”
Instead, he called for perseverance: “We cannot celebrate Easter without continuing to deal with the nights that dwell in our hearts and the shadows of death that so often loom over our world. Christ indeed conquered sin and destroyed death, yet in our earthly history the power of his Resurrection is still being brought to fulfilment.”
The homily took on special significance in this Jubilee Year, as Pope Francis invited the congregation to “let the hope of Easter blossom in our lives and in the world!” Even when “the thought of death lies heavy on our hearts” or “the dark shadows of evil” seem to advance, he encouraged all not to lose heart: “The light quietly shines forth, even though we are in darkness; the promise of new life and a world finally set free awaits us; and a new beginning, however impossible it might seem, can take us by surprise, for Christ has triumphed over death.”
Highlighting the ongoing mission of Christians, Pope Francis stated, “We are to reflect Easter in our lives and become messengers of hope, builders of hope, even as so many winds of death still buffet us.”
He called on believers to be “that presence for those who lack faith in the Lord, for those who have lost their way, for those who have given up or are weighed down by life; for those who are alone or overwhelmed by their sufferings; for all the poor and oppressed in our world; for the many women who are humiliated and killed; for the unborn and for children who are mistreated; and for the victims of war. To each and all of them, let us bring the hope of Easter!”
Concluding with a message of encouragement, Pope Francis proclaimed, “The risen Christ is the definitive turning point in human history. He is the hope that does not fade. He is the love that accompanies us and sustains us. He is the future of history, the ultimate destination towards which we walk, to be welcomed into that new life in which the Lord himself will wipe away all our tears.”
The homily, delivered by Cardinal Re, resonated with the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica, serving as a reminder of the enduring promise of Easter: that even in the darkest moments, hope quietly takes root and grows, lighting the way for all.
