Although the pope was nearly all alone, the Holy Saturday ceremony was powerful.
It began in the dark and in silence.
Then the pope blessed the fire and lit the paschal candle...
As a symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus, the entire basilica was illuminated.
In his homily, the pope proposed that during this pandemic, people follow the example of Jesus' female disciples, who maintained hope in Christ when everything seemed lost.
POPE FRANCIS
These women, by prayer and love, were helping to make that hope flower. How many people, in these sad days, have done and are still doing what those women did, sowing seeds of hope? With small gestures of care, affection and prayer.
He recalled that during the pandemic, many are repeating the phrase 'Everything will be okay.' He said it is not about superficial optimism but a realistic hope, because God is faithful.
POPE FRANCIS
“How beautiful it is to be Christians who offer consolation, who bear the burdens of others and who offer encouragement: messengers of life in a time of death! Let us silence the cries of death, no more wars! May we stop the production and trade of weapons, since we need bread, not guns. Let the abortion and killing of innocent lives end. May the hearts of those who have enough be open to filling the empty hands of those who do not have the bare necessities.”
Typically, the pope baptizes adults in the faith, but this year he couldn't out of respect for the rules of the pandemic.
Although there were no pilgrims, the traditional ringing of the bells continued, after the announcement of the Resurrection.
Thus began Easter ...
JMB
Translation: Melissa Butz
