Illustration:Resurrection, by Hans Multscher, 1437
Pope Leo’s “Urbi et Orbi” message – Easter 2026
Central Loggia of St Peter’s Basilica – Sunday, 5 April 2026
“Christ’s resurrection was entirely nonviolent”
Brothers and sisters,
Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
For centuries, the Church has joyfully sung about the event that is the origin and foundation of her faith: “Yes, Christ my hope is risen / Christ indeed from death is risen / Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning” (Easter Sequence).
Easter represents the victory of life over death, light over darkness, and love over hatred.
This victory came at a very high price:
Christ, the Son of God, died on a cross being unjustly condemned, mocked, tortured, and stripped of his blood.
As the true Lamb of God who was sacrificed, he took on the sins of the world (John 1:29 – The next day `John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!; 1 Peter 1:18–19 – You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot) and thus freed us all — and with us, all creation — from the dominion of evil.
But how was Jesus able to be victorious?
What is the strength with which he defeated once and for all the ancient adversary, the prince of this world (John 12:31 – Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out)?
What is the power with which he rose from the dead, not returning to his former life, but entering into eternal life and thus opening in his own flesh the passage from this world to the Father?
What power did he have when he rose from the dead?
He did not return to his former life – but entered eternal life.
Thus, he opened the passage from this world to the Father in his own flesh.
Jesus able to be victorious through the strength and power is God Himself, for He is the loving Creator, the faithful One, and the forgiving Redeemer.
Christ, our “victorious King,” won his battle by trusting in the Father’s will and plan of salvation (Matthew 26:42 Jesus went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done.”).
He walked the path of dialogue to the very end—not in words, but in deeds.
To find us who were lost, he became flesh.
To free us who were slaves, he became a slave.
To give us mortals life, he allowed himself to be killed on the cross.
Christ’s resurrection was entirely nonviolent.
It is like that of a grain of wheat that rots in the earth, grows, breaks through the soil, sprouts, and becomes a golden ear of wheat.
It is even more like that of a human heart which, when wounded by an offense, overcomes the urge for revenge and instead fills with compassion, praying for the offender.
Brothers and sisters,
This is the true strength that brings peace to humanity, because it fosters respectful relationships at every level – among individuals, families, social groups, and nations.
It does not seek private interests, but rather the common good.
Rather than imposing its own plan, it seeks to collaborate with others to design and carry out a plan together
Yes, Christ’s resurrection signifies the start of a new era for humanity.
It is an entrance into the true Promised Land, where justice, freedom, and peace reign supreme.
There, everyone recognizes one another as brothers and sisters—children of the same loving, life-giving, light-filled Father.
Brothers and sisters, through his resurrection, the Lord powerfully confronts us with the dramatic reality of our freedom.
Before the empty tomb, we may feel hope and wonder like the disciples, or fear like the guards and the Pharisees who resorted to lies and subterfuge rather than acknowledge the risen Christ.
Brothers and sisters,
The Lord confronts us. through his resurrection. with an even more powerful reminder of our freedom.
We can be filled with hope and wonder before the empty tomb, like the disciples, or we can be filled with fear, like the guards and Pharisees, who were forced to resort to lies and subterfuge rather than acknowledge that the one who had been condemned is the risen Christ.
(Matthew 28:11–15 – While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”15 So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.)!
In light of Easter, let us allow ourselves to be amazed by Christ and let us allow his immense love for us transform our hearts.
May those who have weapons lay them down.
Those who have the power to unleash wars should choose peace.
Not a peace imposed by force, but rather, a peace established through dialogue.
Not with the desire to dominate, but to encounter others
We are growing accustomed to violence and becoming indifferent to it.
We are indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people. We are indifferent to the repercussions of the hatred and division that conflicts sow.
We are indifferent to the economic and social consequences that affect us all.
As Pope Francis said one year ago in his final address to the world, there is an ever-increasing “globalization of indifference.”: “What a great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world!” (Urbi et Orbi Message, 20 April 2025).
The cross of Christ reminds us of the suffering and pain surrounding death.
We are all afraid of death. Out of fear, we turn away and prefer not to look.
However, we cannot remain indifferent!
We cannot resign ourselves to evil!
“If you fear death, love the resurrection!” (Sermon 124, 4).
Let us love the Resurrection too, for it reminds us that evil is not the final answer because it has been vanquished by the Risen One.
He conquered death to give us life and peace. “I leave you peace. I give you my peace.
Not as the world gives it, but as I give it to you” (John 14:27).
The peace Jesus gives us is not just the absence of conflict, but a peace that touches and transforms each of our hearts!
Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by the peace of Christ.
Let us make the cry for peace in our hearts heard! (For this reason, I invite everyone to join me in a prayer vigil for peace here in St. Peter’s Basilica next Saturday, April 11).
On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil.
To the Lord we entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only he can give.
Let us entrust ourselves to him and open our hearts to him! He is the only one who makes all things new (Revelations 21:5 – he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
He also said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true”).
Happy Easter!
