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It was the first Wednesday audience in St. Peter's Square since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The youth pilgrimage was organized in an effort to reach out to young people whose lives were upended during the past two years of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fear is like a tomb that can “bury us,” Pope Francis said Monday, but the Risen Lord’s words to the women who were the first to announce his resurrection apply to us, as well: “Be not afraid.”
“Brothers and sisters, let us allow the peace of Christ to enter our lives, our homes, our countries,” Pope Francis said.
An estimated 50,000 people were in St. Peter's Square for the pope's Easter Sunday Mass.
Pope Francis did not preside over the Easter Vigil Mass, but he delivered the homily and baptized seven people.
‘War is everywhere,’ he told interviewer Lorena Bianchetti.
‘The priest with a functionalist mindset has his own nourishment, which is his ego,’ he said.
The pope will visit the prison of Civitavecchia, outside Rome.
The two men prayed together ‘after a brief and affectionate conversation.’
The pope described war as ‘a blasphemous betrayal of the Lord of Passover.’
Pope Francis reflected on Jesus’ words: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
“Let the weapons be put down. Let the Easter truce begin,” Pope Francis urged.
The pope pointed to the example of Bl. Rosario Livatino, a Catholic judge killed by the mafia.
The pope held up a blue and yellow flag which he said was brought to him from “the martyred city” of Bucha, Ukraine.
The pope made the comments during a reflection on his recent trip to Malta at his weekly general audience.
Healthcare workers “have given their lives during this pandemic to help so many sick people recover,” Pope Francis said.
The pope accepted Turkson’s resignation as head of Vatican’s social development office in December.
Pope Francis on Saturday said a papal visit to Kyiv is "on the table," raising the possibility of a dramatic escalation of the Holy See's diplomatic and spiritual effort to bring about an end to the fighting that has raged in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.
“I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry,” Pope Francis said.