Pope Francis says "Here is the Easter message that we are called to proclaim....and our hearts resound in our homes: "Christ, my hope, is risen!" Full Text/Video at Regina Caeli

POPE FRANCIS at Regina Caeli - FULL TEXT

Library of the Apostolic Palace
Angel Monday, April 13, 2020

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, Monday of the Angel, the joyful announcement of the resurrection of Christ resounds. The Gospel page (cf. Mt 28: 8-15) tells that women, frightened, quickly abandon the tomb of Jesus, which they found empty; but Jesus himself appears to them on the way saying: «Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they are going to Galilee: they will see me there "(v. 10). With these words, the Risen Lord entrusts women with a missionary mandate towards the Apostles. In fact, they gave an admirable example of loyalty, dedication and love for Christ in the time of his public life as well as during his passion; now they are rewarded by him with this gesture of attention and predilection. Women, always at the beginning: Maria at the beginning; women in the beginning.

First the women, then the disciples and, in particular, Peter note the reality of the resurrection. Jesus had repeatedly announced to them that, after the passion and the cross, he would rise again, but the disciples did not understand, because they were not yet ready. Their faith was to make a qualitative leap, which only the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Risen One, could provoke.

At the beginning of the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear Peter declaring frankly, courageously, frankly: "This Jesus, God raised him up and we are all witnesses of it" (Acts 2.32). As if to say: "I put my face to Him. I give my life for Him". And then he will give his life for him. From that moment, the announcement that Christ is risen spreads everywhere and reaches every corner of the earth, becoming the message of hope for all. The resurrection of Jesus tells us that the last word is not up to death, but to life. By raising the only-begotten Son, God the Father has fully manifested his love and mercy for humanity of all times.

If Christ is risen, it is possible to look with confidence at every event of our existence, even the most difficult and full of anguish and uncertainty. Here is the Easter message that we are called to proclaim, with words and above all with the witness of life. May our news and our hearts resound in our homes: "Christ, my hope, is risen!" (Easter sequence). This certainty strengthens the faith of every baptized person and above all encourages those who are facing greater suffering and difficulty.

May the Virgin Mary, silent witness of the death and resurrection of her son Jesus, help us to strongly believe in this mystery of salvation: accepted with faith, it can change life. This is the Easter greeting that I renew to all of you. I entrust it to you, our Mother, whom we now invoke with the Regina Caeli prayer.

After the Regina Coeli

Dear brothers and sisters,

we heard that the women gave the disciples the announcement of the Resurrection of Jesus. Today I would like to remind you of what many women do, even in this time of medical emergency, to take care of others: female doctors, nurses, agents of the forces of the order and prisons, employees of basic necessities stores ..., and many mothers and sisters and grandmothers who find themselves locked in the house with the whole family, with children, the elderly and the disabled. Sometimes they are at risk of being subjected to violence, for a coexistence of which they carry too great a burden. Let us pray for them, so that the Lord may give them strength and that our communities can support them together with their families. May the Lord give us the courage of women, to always go forward.

In this Easter week I would like to remember with closeness and affection all the countries heavily affected by the coronavirus, some with large numbers of infected and deceased, especially Italy, the United States of America, Spain, France ... the list is long. I pray for all of them. And don't forget that the Pope prays for you, he is close to you.

I warmly renew my Easter greetings to all. We remain united in prayer and in our commitment to help each other as brothers. Have a good lunch and goodbye.