Vatican City, Apr 12, 2009 / 08:50 am
Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square today to hear Pope Benedict XVI’s Easter message and Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing. During his address, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that Jesus’ death and resurrection gives hope to the world.
The Pope began his reflection by quoting St. Augustine saying, "‘Resurrectio Domini spes nostra - the Lord's resurrection is our hope.’ With these words, the great Bishop explained to the faithful that Jesus rose again so that we, though destined to die, should not despair, worrying that with death life is completely finished; Christ is risen to give us hope."
Answering the question about what follows death, the Pope affirmed "that death is not the last word, because Life will be victorious at the end. This certainty of ours is based not on simple human reasoning, but on a historical fact of faith: Jesus Christ, crucified and buried, is risen with his glorified body. Jesus is risen so that we too, believing in him, may have eternal life. This proclamation is at the heart of the Gospel message."
He also emphasized that "since the dawn of Easter a new Spring of hope has filled the world; from that day forward our resurrection has begun, because Easter does not simply signal a moment in history, but the beginning of a new condition: Jesus is risen not because his memory remains alive in the hearts of his disciples, but because he himself lives in us, and in him we can already savor the joy of eternal life."