Ten years ago, in his inaugural Easter Urbi et Orbi message to the city of Rome and to the world, Pope Francis spoke of the power of the Resurrection:
“Dear brothers and sisters, Christ died and rose once for all, and for everyone, but the power of the Resurrection, this passover from slavery to evil to the freedom of goodness, must be accomplished in every age, in our concrete existence, in our everyday lives. How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbour, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the Creator has given us and continues to give us. God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez 37:1-14).”
I extend sincerest greetings to you, members of the CNEWA family, for a blessed Easter! You consistently demonstrate the power of the Resurrection as good neighbors to those we serve and as guardians of the creation in which we live! Thank you!
“So this is the invitation which I address to everyone: Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God [can] protect all creation…”
I extend sincerest greetings to you, members of the CNEWA family, for a blessed Easter! You have become “agents” of God’s mercy. Through your prayer and generosity, you are “channels” for the protection of God’s creation! Thank you!
“And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world.”
I extend sincerest greetings to you, members of the CNEWA family, for a blessed Easter! You are witnesses to the “risen Jesus” and you recognize the work we must do so that through him peace can come “for all the world.” Thank you!
Over the past year, we have launched two emergency campaigns: one on behalf of the Ukrainian people, both those who have remained in Ukraine following the attack of Russia against their sovereign state and those who’ve fled as refugees and left everything behind, and, more recently, on behalf of the victims of the earthquakes which struck parts of Syria and Turkey. You have been most generous. Thank you!
I invite you to send me your prayer intentions! I will pray for you at the CNEWA residence during my daily Masses. It is one way that I can give back to you some of what you have so generously given to those with so many needs in the places where we work.
God bless you this Easter season and always. May you experience the power of the Resurrection in your own lives through your intimate relationship with the Crucified and Risen Jesus. In his wounds you will find hope and peace!