TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Leo XIV led his first Easter Vigil at St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday night. He carried a lit candle in the midst of the dark and quiet atmosphere. During Mass, Pope Leo XIV called for the Easter celebration to be a time of harmony and peace in a conflict-ridden world.
Easter is an important celebration for Christians, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ following His crucifixion. In the liturgical procession, the Easter candle is lit as a symbol of "the light of Christ who rises in glory."
The candle bearers paused to light the congregation's candles as they walked along the central aisle, spreading flickering light in the dark basilica before the lights came on as the Pope arrived at the main baroque-style altar, followed by cardinals in white robes.
In his sermon, as reported by APNews, Pope Leo XIV depicted sin as a heavy barrier between humans and God. He likened sin to the stone that sealed Jesus' tomb, which then rolled away as a symbol of resurrection and new hope.
"There are stones representing sins to be overturned today, some so heavy and so closely guarded that they seem to be immovable," he said.
He urged the faithful not to give in to these conditions and to continue to strive for peace. The call was made in the midst of escalating global conflicts, including the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against Iran, which has entered its second month, and the war in Ukraine. The Pope also emphasized that God does not condone violence done in the name of religion.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to lead an open mass at St. Peter's Square on Sunday morning, before delivering the Easter message "Urbi et Orbi" to the world.
Nevertheless, this year's Easter celebration took place in a bleak atmosphere in several Middle Eastern regions. In Jerusalem, the worship at the Holy Sepulchre Church, believed to be the site of Christ's resurrection, was conducted with restrictions due to security measures.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, described the city as almost completely silent amid the shadows of war. Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, a predominantly Christian area was reportedly caught in a crossfire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Despite the tense situation, some residents continued to celebrate Easter. In Debel, a village in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, residents prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday even as the sounds of bombing were heard around their village. The village was almost entirely cut off from the outside world and relied on aid shipments. "The situation is tragic," said a local figure, Joseph Attieh, speaking to AFP via phone as reported by ABS-CBN.
"People are terrified, and the sound of shelling and gunfire has not stopped for a moment since last night. We haven't been able to sleep," said Attieh, who placed his hope in God. "This is the only glimmer of hope we will not give up on."
This year's Easter celebration serves as a strong reminder of the contrast between the message of resurrection and hope and the reality of ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world.
Read: Pope Leo XIV: God Rejects Prayers of Leaders Who Wage War
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