Pope leads crowd at first outdoor Easter Mass since pandemic

Pope Francis celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square for the first time since pandemic caused by corona virusmake the most joyful day of Christianity at a time when war in Ukraine weighed heavily on his heart.

Pope Francis made a plea for peace in the “pointless” war in Ukraine and in other armed conflicts unfolding around the world, and raised the “worrying” risk of nuclear war. .

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, devastated by the violence and devastation of this cruel and senseless war in which it has been dragged into,” Francis said, speaking from the board. central public of St Peter’s Square.

The pope, 85, just finished celebrating Easter Mass in a square that was crowded with faithful for the holiday for the first time since the pandemic began in early 2020.

Many of the 50,000 people in the square and on a nearby boulevard broke out into applause when he mentioned Ukraine..

“Please, please, don’t let us get used to war,” Francis pleaded, after denouncing “the flexing of muscles while everyone else is suffering.”

The Pope, who has a knee ligament problem, limped badly as he stepped out from the back of St Peter’s Basilica to an altar set up on the outside steps, shaded by a canopy against the bright sunlight.

Immediately after the conclusion of Mass, Pope Francis boarded a white popemobile to cycle through the square to greet the cheering wise men among the distinguished faithful.

Meanwhile, in London, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby called on Russia to declare a ceasefire and withdraw its troops from Ukraine. The leader of the Anglican church said Easter is a time for peace, not “blood and iron.”

Note that at the Eastern Orthodox church, followed by many in Russia and Ukraine Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week – with Easter coming on April 24 – Welby has called on Russia to withdraw Ukraine and committed to negotiations.

In an unusually blunt political remark, Welby also condemned the British government recent plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda like going against God.

Warm weather and the easing of many pandemic restrictions – including what has been for most of the pandemic in Italy a mandatory requirement for wearing masks outdoors – have seen an outbreak. Tourism booms in Rome, with many tourists flooding the city for Holy Week services that culminate in Easter.

In Spain, secular believers and enthusiasts flocked back in large numbers to participate in Holy Week processions this week for the first time since the start of the pandemic after most Health restrictions are lifted.

at Blogtuan.info – Source: nbcnews.com – Read the original article here