Pope Francis denounces the cruelty and the darkness of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in an Easter vigil Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church attended the ceremony, but he did not preside, most likely due to the 85-year-old pontiff's recurring leg pain.
The Pope suffers from sciatica, which causes pain in one leg and results in a pronounced limp. The Catholic News Agency reported that the religious leader has recently suffered from "acute knee pain" that affected his movement and prompted him to cancel some events.
The rite, which included a procession in near-total darkness across the central nave of Christendom's biggest church, was led by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who substituted the Pope as the primary celebrant.
Sitting at a large white chair at the front of Saint Peter's Basilica, the Pope seemed alert and rose during the gospel reading portion of the mass, which drew 5,500 people,
He delivered his homily while sitting and stood to baptize seven adult Catholic converts.
Message Of Compassion
In his Easter message, Pope Francis talked about the significance of Jesus Christ as the light amid the "horrors" of war, "through acts of kindness and peace efforts.
The pontiff urged the faithful to welcome the resurrected Christ in their everyday lives by practicing "acts of reconciliation amid broken relationships, acts of compassion towards those in need, acts of justice amid situations of inequality ... and of truth in the midst of lies."
Pope Francis also encouraged everyone to pray for Ukraine.
"All of us pray for you and with you. We pray because there is so much suffering. We can only give you our company, our prayers and say to you 'courage, we accompany you,'" Francis emphasized, as per Reuters report.
Among the attendees of the mass was Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, who was detained by Russian soldiers last month and then released in a prisoner swap.
Before the Mass, Francis met privately with the Ukrainian delegation that included three parliamentarians, according to the Vatican.
Forgiveness For Rebellious Hearts
On Good Friday, Pope Francis was able to preside over the Way of The Cross ritual held at the Colosseum in Rome, attended by around 10,000 faithful.
Families offered meditation for each of the 14 Stations that reflect their sufferings and hopes as they recollect the passion and death of Christ.
The meditations on the Way of the Cross were written by 15 families involved with Catholic volunteer organizations, and they explored various components of the hardships and tragedies that families face around the world.
The 13th Station was the climax of the meditations, with two ladies carrying the cross together: Albina from Russia and Irina from Ukraine.
Silence, rather than the prepared meditation, spoke louder than any words, The Vatican News reported.
The two women, who were friends and both nurses in Rome, embraced the cross and exchanged glances that seemed to convey both the anguish of fighting brethren and the unwavering hope of peace and reconciliation.
In his final prayer for the event, the Pope prayed for forgiveness for "rebellious hearts" and let the light of God's Word shine in the hearts of all families amidst the joys and sorrows in the world.
