Pope Francis Easter Mass 2021 at the Vatican: Transcript

Speaker 1: (00:00) [foreign language 00:00:00]. Translator: (00:00) The Lord has risen from the tomb who for us hung upon the tree. Speaker 1: (00:27) [foreign language 00:00:27]. Translator: (00:33) Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. Choir: (00:42) [foreign language 00:00:42]. Announcer: (01:16) Our Holy Father now being led toward the icon and he will incense the image. As much as we try to express the mystery, faith leads us where our eyes cannot. This image a reminder that the risen Lord is truly present among us. Choir: (01:48) [foreign language 00:01:48]. Announcer: (01:48) Our Holy Father now fanerating the altar, on which once again our Lord will make present his sacrifice completed once and for all 2000 years ago. Choir: (02:29) [foreign language 00:02:29]. Announcer: (02:36) Holy Father now incensing also the Paschal candle, another symbol of the risen Lord in our midst. Choir: (02:44) [foreign language 00:02:44]. Announcer: (03:25) After the introduction the liturgical greeting we will be taking part in the Asperges. Pope Francis: (03:56) [foreign language 00:03:56]Dear brothers and sisters, let us implore the blessing of God our Father, that this right of the sprinkling of Holy Water may revive in us the grace of our baptism, in which we were immersed in the Lord's redemptive death in order to rise with him to new life. Pope Francis: (04:23) [foreign language 00:04:23]. Glory to you, Father, who from the lamb sacrificed on the cross you make living waters flow. Choir: (05:00) [foreign language 00:05:00]. Pope Francis: (05:00) [foreign language 00:05:00]. Glory to you Christ, to renew the church's youth in the bath of water with the word of life. Choir: (05:36) [foreign language 00:05:36]. Pope Francis: (05:36) [foreign language 00:05:36]. Glory to you oh spirit, who through the waters of baptism transform us into the first fruits of the new humanity. Choir: (06:17) [foreign language 00:06:17]. Announcer: (06:18) Our Holy Father now blessing those ministry and closest to him, and those participating now receiving the Holy Water. If we have Holy Water at home this would be a good moment for us to bless ourselves. Choir: (06:34) [foreign language 00:06:34]. Pope Francis: (07:40) [foreign language 00:07:40]. May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the celebration of this Eucharist make us worthy to share at the table of his Kingdom. Choir: (07:49) [foreign language 00:07:49]. Pope Francis: (11:25) [foreign language 00:11:25]. And we pray. Pope Francis: (11:35) [foreign language 00:11:35]. Oh God who on this day, through your only begotten son have conquered death, and unlocked for us the path to eternity. Grant we pray that we who keep the solemnity of the Lord's resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your spirit, rise up in the light of life. Pope Francis: (12:02) [foreign language 00:12:02]. Our first reading this morning taken from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Speaker 2: (12:50) [foreign language 00:12:50]. Peter addressed Cornelius and his household, you must have heard about the recent happenings in Judea about Jesus of Nazareth, and how he began in Galilee after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. And because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judea and in Jerusalem itself. And also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people, but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses. We have eaten and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead, and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness, that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. Speaker 3: (14:12) [foreign language 00:14:12]. Translator: (14:34) Our response today, this day was made by the Lord. We rejoice and are glad. Speaker 3: (15:18) [foreign language 00:15:18]. Translator: (15:18) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say his love has no end. Speaker 3: (16:09) [foreign language 00:16:09]. Translator: (16:09) The Lord's right hand has triumphed. His right hand raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. Speaker 3: (16:27) [foreign language 00:16:27]. Translator: (17:00) The stone which the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Translator: (17:21) We will now hear proclaimed the second reading, and at this point I welcome also all of those of you joining us to those stations picking up the worldwide telecast, especially those through Eurovision. Speaker 4: (17:45) A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to levain all the dough. So get rid of all the old yeast and make yourself into a completely new batch of bread, unlevain as you are meant to be. Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unlevained bread of sincerity and truth. Choir: (18:52) [foreign language 00:18:52]. Announcer: (18:59) And now the traditional and ancient Easter sequence will be proclaimed. Choir: (19:09) [foreign language 00:19:09]. Announcer: (22:59) The gospel procession now at the ambo, after the chanting of the glorious gospel antiphon. Our gospel this morning taken from the gospel according to Saint John, it will be proclaimed first in Latin and then in Greek. Speaker 5: (23:31) [foreign language 00:23:31]. The deacon will now scents the book of the gospels, as we recognize the presence of Christ speaking to us through his word. Speaker 5: (24:20) [foreign language 00:24:20]. It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb, and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb." She said, " And we don't know where they have put him." Speaker 5: (25:08) [foreign language 00:25:08]. So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground but did not go in. Speaker 5: (25:43) [foreign language 00:25:43]. Simon Peter, who was following, now came up went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head. This was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Speaker 5: (26:01) [foreign language 00:26:01]. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in. He saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture that he must rise from the dead. Now we prepare ourselves to hear the gospel in the original language in which it was written. First a dialogue between the deacon and our Holy Father. Speaker 6: (27:07) [foreign language 00:27:07]. Wisdom standing, let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you and with your spirit. Speaker 6: (28:14) [foreign language 00:28:14]. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. Praise to you oh Lord, praise to you. Let us listen. Speaker 6: (28:49) [foreign language 00:28:49]. Announcer: (30:29) Praise to you oh Lord, praise to you. The book of the gospel's now being carried to our Holy Father who venerates and now blesses us with the word of God. Our Holy Father now sitting, it is not customary for him to provide a homily for this liturgy since he will be giving his word be it or it be message shortly after this liturgy. Announcer: (31:27) In 2018, he spoke off the cuff and he said that after listening to the word of God there were three things that he wanted to say. He spoke about the proclamation, that there was a proclamation that the Lord had risen. A proclamation that traveled by word of mouth ever since the early days of Christianity and it became a greeting, the Lord has risen. And the women who went to anoint the Lord's body were met by a surprise, very similar to what he spoke about last night, God's surprises. It's been like this from the beginning of salvation history, ever since our father, Abraham, God surprises us. One surprise always follows another, our Holy Father said in his homily in 2018. God is not able to make a proclamation without surprising us, and the surprise is what moves your heart. It's what touches you in the very place you do not expect. To use the language of young people he said, a surprise as a low blow, you don't expect it. Announcer: (32:46) And the second he said was the haste with which the women run. God's surprises place us on a journey immediately without delay. They ran to see Simon and Peter and they run as well. He also remembered that the shepherds on the first Christmas night also ran to go to Bethlehem, and that the Samaritan woman ran to tell her people about the man that she had met. Announcer: (33:17) And the third thing is the question, what about me? Do I have a heart that is open to God's surprises? Am I capable of going quickly or do I persist saying over and over again, well I'll do it tomorrow. Tomorrow. Choir: (33:35) [foreign language 00:33:35] Pope Francis: (34:07) [foreign language 00:34:07] In Christ's resurrection the power of the spirit made us God's holy people. Let us lift up our prayer so that the joy of Easter might extend throughout the entire world. Speaker 7: (34:35) [foreign language 00:34:35]. For The church of God that she might recognize with gratitude that she has an Easter community generated by the crucified and risen Christ. Speaker 7: (35:03) [foreign language 00:35:03]. Translator: (35:03) For all the baptized that washed by the blood and water that flow from Christ's side, they may renew the grace of their birth in the spirit. Speaker 7: (35:28) [foreign language 00:35:28]. Translator: (35:28) For all of humanity that the joyful proclamation might spread throughout the world, that in Christ we have become one people called to walk in the way of liberty and peace. Speaker 7: (35:46) [foreign language 00:35:46]. Translator: (35:55) For our families that the Pascal events might be celebrated with sincerity and truth in every home, and that the Lord's gift might be shared through hospitality to the least, the poor, and the suffering. Speaker 7: (36:13) [foreign language 00:36:13]. Translator: (36:13) For all our deceased brothers and sisters, so that they might now partake of the eternal banquet and expectation of the final resurrection. Pope Francis: (36:44) [foreign language 00:36:44]. Oh God, father of light who enlightened the darkness of the world by raising your son from the dead, renew in us the desire to be faithful to our baptism, and grant that our only boast might be your son, Jesus crucified, risen, and alive in our midst forever. At this point we now enter into the liturgy of the Eucharist. The altar will be prepared, the gifts of bread and wine placed on the altar. There will be no offertory procession. And then we will move into the consecration when the gifts of bread and wine will be transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. For those of you following in a Missal you can follow Eucharistic Prayer One. Choir: (38:14) [foreign language 00:38:14]. Announcer: (40:43) Our Holy father now scenting once again the Easter candle, the Pascoe candle. The altar beautifully decorated with a donation of avalanche roses, provided once again by the Netherlands. It's been 35 years they've been providing flowers for Easter. These roses are the queen of roses and symbolize hope, purity, strengths, connection, and simplicity. We prepare ourselves now to enter into this mystery in which all of creation hear this symbol of these flowers, and all of us join in offering once again through the person of the Holy Father, the Priest residing at this liturgy, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pope Francis: (41:51) [foreign language 00:41:51]. Exultant with Paskal gladness oh Lord, we offer the sacrifice by which your Christ is wondrously reborn and nourished. Pope Francis: (42:26) [foreign language 00:42:26]. It is truly right and just, our duty, and our salvation at all times to acclaim you oh Lord, but on this day above all to allow you yet more gloriously when Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed. For he is the true lamb who has taken away the sins of the world. By dying he has destroyed our death and by rising restored or life. Therefore overcome with Paskal joy every land, every people exalts in your praise, and even the heavenly powers with the angelic hosts sing together the unending hymn of your glory. Choir: (43:25) [foreign language 00:43:25]. Pope Francis: (44:42) [foreign language 00:44:42]. We now pray for the living. Speaker 8: (45:31) [foreign language 00:45:31]. Pope Francis: (46:00) Brothers and sisters, happy Easter happy holy and serene Easter today throughout the world the church's proclamation resounds Jesus who has risen Jesus who was crucified has risen as he said, hallelujah. The Easter proclamation does not offer us a mirage or reveal a magic formula, it does not point to an escape from the difficult situation we are experiencing the pandemic is still at its height while the social and economic crisis remained severe especially for the poor nonetheless and this is scandalous armed conflicts have not ended and military arsenals are being strengthened and this is today's scandal who worked Pope Francis: (01:09:01) ... In the face of, or better, in the midst of this complex reality, the Easter Proclamation speaks concisely of the event that gives us the hope that does not disappoint: Jesus who was crucified has risen. It speaks to us not about angels or ghosts, but about a man, a man of flesh and bone, with a face and a name: Jesus. The Gospel testifies that this Jesus, crucified under Pontius Pilate for claiming he was the Christ, the Son of God, and on the third day he rose in accordance with the Scriptures, just as he himself had foretold to his disciples. Pope Francis: (01:09:59) The crucified Jesus, and not another person, rose from the dead. God the Father raised Jesus, his Son, because he fully accomplished his saving will. Jesus took upon himself our weakness, our infirmities, even our death. He endured our sufferings and bore the weight of our iniquity. Because of this, God the Father exalted him and now Jesus Christ lives forever; he is the Lord. Pope Francis: (01:10:41) The witnesses report an important detail: the risen Jesus bears the marks of the wounds in his hands, feet and side. These wounds are the everlasting seal of his love for us. All those who experience a painful trial in body or spirit can find refuge in these wounds and, through them, receive the grace of the hope that does not disappoint. Pope Francis: (01:11:16) The risen Christ is hope for all who continue to suffer from the pandemic, both the sick and those who have lost a loved one. May the Lord give them comfort and sustain the valiant efforts of doctors and nurses. Everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us, requires assistance and has the right to have access to necessary care. This is even more evident in these times when all of us are called to combat the pandemic, and vaccines are an essential tool in this fight. In a spirit of the fact that the vaccine should be international, in a spirit of global responsibility, to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines and to facilitate their distribution, especially in the poorest countries. Pope Francis: (01:12:36) The crucified and risen Lord is comfort for those who have lost their jobs or experienced serious economic difficulties and lack adequate social protection. May the Lord inspire public authorities to act so that everyone, especially families in greatest need will be offered the assistance needed for decent sustenance. Pope Francis: (01:13:10) The pandemic has increased the number of the poor. All of the poor need to be able to hope again, as John Paul II said during his apostolic visit to Haiti, and especially to the dear Haitian people go my thought and my encouragement so that might not be overcome by difficulties, but might look to the future with trust and with hope. I would say that my thought, especially goes to you, my dear brothers and sisters in Haiti, that I am near you, I'm near to you, and I hope that the problems might be resolved definitively for you. I pray for this, my dear brothers and sisters in Haiti. Pope Francis: (01:14:26) The risen Jesus hope for all those young people forced to go long periods without attending school or university or spending time with their friends. We all need to experience real human relationships, not just virtual relationships, especially at an age when a person's character and personality is being formed. We've heard on Friday, this last Friday, during the Via Crucis, we heard children. I express my closeness to the young people throughout the world, and especially in these days to the young people of Myanmar committing themselves to the support of democracy and making their voices heard peacefully, in the knowledge that hatred can be dispelled only by love. May the light of the risen Jesus be a source of rebirth for migrants fleeing from war and extreme poverty or misery. May we recognize in their faces, the marred and suffering face of the Lord as he walked the path to Calvary. May they never lack concrete signs of solidarity and human fraternity, a pledge of the victory of life over death that we celebrate on this day. I thank the nations that generously receive people who are suffering and seeking refuge, especially Lebanon and Jordan who are taking in many refugees fleeing from the conflict in Syria. May the people of Lebanon, who are undergoing times of difficulty and uncertainty, may they experience the constellation of the risen Lord and find support from the international community in their specific vocation to be a land of encounter, coexistence and pluralism. Pope Francis: (01:16:54) May Christ our peace finally bring an end to the clash of arms in beloved and war-torn Syria, where millions of people are presently living in inhumane conditions; as also in Yemen, whose situation has met with a deafening and scandalous silence; and in Libya, where at last there is hope that a decade of bloody strive and clashes may come to an end. May all parties involved commit themselves effectively to ending conflicts and allowing war-weary peoples to live in peace and to begin the reconstruction of their respective countries. Pope Francis: (01:17:55) The resurrection naturally takes us to Jerusalem. On Jerusalem we ask the Lord to grant peace and security so that it can embrace its calling to be a place of encounter, where everyone can experience themselves as brothers and sisters, and where Israelis and Palestinians might recover the power of dialogue for reaching a stable solution that will enable the two states to dwell side by side in peace and prosperity. On this festive day, may thoughts also go to Iraq, which I had the joy of visiting last month. I pray that Iraq may continue along the path of peace and thus fulfill God's dream for a human family hospitable and welcoming to all its children. Pope Francis: (01:19:08) May the power of the risen Lord sustain the peoples of Africa who see their future compromised by internal violence and international terrorism, especially in the Sahel and Nigeria, as well as in the Tigray region and Cabo Delgado region. May the efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully continue, in respect for human rights and the sacredness of life, through fraternal and constructive dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation and true solidarity. Pope Francis: (01:19:56) There are still too many wars and too much violence in the world. May the Lord, who is our peace, help us to overcome the mindset of war. May he grant those who are prisoners of conflicts, especially in Eastern Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh to return safe and sound to their families, and may he inspire world leaders to curb the race for new weaponry. Today, the 4th of April, marks the International Awareness Day against anti-personnel landmines, insidious and horrible devices that kill or maim many innocent people each year, and prevent humanity from walking together on the paths of life without fearing the threat of destruction and death. How much better our world would be without these instruments of death? Pope Francis: (01:21:14) Dear brothers and sisters, once again this year, in various places, many Christians have celebrated Easter under severe restrictions, and at times, without even being able to attend liturgical celebrations. We pray that those restrictions, as well as all the restrictions on freedom of worship and religion throughout the world may be lifted, and that everyone may be allowed to pray and praise God freely. Pope Francis: (01:21:51) Amid the many hardships we are enduring, let us never forget that we have been healed by the wounds of Christ. In the light of the risen Lord, our sufferings are now transfigured. Where there was death, now there is life. Where there was mourning, now there is constellation. In embracing the cross, Jesus bestowed meaning on our sufferings and now we pray that the benefits of that healing will spread throughout the world. Happy, holy and serene Easter. Pope Francis: (01:23:20) His Holiness Pope Francis grants a plenary indulgence in the form laid down by the church to all the faithful present, and to those who receive his blessing by radio, television, and the new communication, even those who unite themselves only spiritually to this rite. Let us ask Almighty God to grant the Pope many as leader of the church and that he might grant peace and unity to the church throughout the world. Pope Francis: (01:24:11) May the holy apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we trust, intercede for us before the Lord. Through the prayers and merits of blessed Mary ever-Virgin, Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, may Almighty God have mercy on you and forgive all your sins, and may Jesus Christ bring you to life everlasting. Amen. Pope Francis: (01:24:51) May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you indulgence, absolution and the remission of your sins, a season of true and fruitful penance, a well-disposed heart, amendment of life, the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit and final perseverance in good works. Congregation: (01:25:26) Amen.