VATICAN - In his Easter Message the Pope prays for peace in the Holy Land, in the Middle East, in Africa, “where so much blood continues to be shed” and for all humanity and he says. “We men and women of the third millennium we too need you, Risen Lord!”

Wednesday, 30 March 2005

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Vatican City (Fides Service) - At the end of the Mass celebrated on behalf of Pope John Paul on Easter Sunday morning 27 March in St Peter’s Square Cardinal Angelo Sodano read the Holy Father’s Easter Message and introduced the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi blessing.
“Dear brothers and sisters, the Word and the Bread of the Eucharist, the mystery and the gift of Easter, remain down the centuries as a constant memorial of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ! On this Easter Day, together with all Christians throughout the world, we too repeat those words: Jesus, crucified and risen, stay with us! Stay with us, faithful friend and sure support for humanity on its journey through history!” the Pope said in his message.
The Pope asked the Risen Lord to teach “words and deeds of peace”: “Stay with us, Living Word of the Father, and teach us words and deeds of peace: peace for our world consecrated by your blood and drenched in the blood of so many innocent victims: peace for the countries of the Middle East and Africa, where so much blood continues to be shed; peace for all of humanity, still threatened by fratricidal wars. Stay with us, Bread of eternal life, broken and distributed to those at table: give also to us the strength to show generous solidarity towards the multitudes who are even today suffering and dying from poverty and hunger, decimated by fatal epidemics or devastated by immense natural disasters. By the power of your Resurrection,
may they too become sharers in new life..” he said.
Lastly the Pope said that also the men and women of the 3rd millennium need the Risen Lord: “Stay with us now, and until the end of time. Grant that the material progress of peoples may never obscure the spiritual values which are the soul of their civilisation. Sustain us, we pray, on our journey. In you do we believe, in you do we hope, for you alone have the words of eternal life (cf. Jn 6:68). Mane nobiscum, Domine! Alleluia! Happy Easter to you all!” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/3/2005; righe 22, parole 329)