Vatican City - Pope Francis urged people
to "not yield to fear" and focused on a "message of hope" as he
led an Easter eve Mass in an empty St. Peter's Basilica on
Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic and called for an end to
wars.
The vigil, which normally takes place in a church packed
with about 10,000 people, was attended by only about two dozen,
including a few altar servers and a smaller-than-usual choir.
Because of the coronavirus outbreak, it was scaled back to
eliminate several traditional features, such as the baptism of
adult converts and a long procession up the main aisle of
Christendom's largest church.
Francis drew a comparison between the Gospel account of the
women who found Jesus' tomb empty on the day Christians believe
he rose from the dead and the uncertain state of the world today
because of the coronavirus pandemic.
People pray during the solemn Easter vigil ceremony led by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilic. Picture: Remo Casilli/Pool Photo via AP
"Then too, there was fear about the future and all that
would need to be rebuilt. A painful memory, a hope cut short.
For them, as for us, it was the darkest hour," Francis said in
his homily.
In countries around the world Catholics followed the papal
service or Masses said by priests in their own empty churches
and broadcast on television or over the internet.
"Do not be afraid, do not yield to fear: This is the message
of hope. It is addressed to us, today. These are the words that
God repeats to us this very night," Francis said.
He encouraged people to be "messengers of life in a time of
death," again condemning the arms trade and urging those better
off to help the poor.
"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," Francis said.
"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," he said.
Pope Francis presides over a solemn Easter vigil ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica empty of the faithful following Italy’s ban on gatherings to contain coronavirus. Picture: Vatican News via AP
All of the pope's Holy Week activities were modified, taking
place with no participation by the public.
It will be the same for the culminating event on Easter
Sunday, when Francis says Mass and delivers his "Urbi et Orbi"
(to the city and the world) blessing and message.
The Easter Sunday Mass usually attracts up to 100,000 people
in St. Peter's Square. This year, it will be held inside the
church with a symbolic congregation of fewer than 20 people.