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Pope Francis decries ‘icy winds of war’ at Easter vigil in Rome’s St Peter’s Basilica

  • The pope, who was in hospital due to bronchitis last week and suffers from a knee condition, approached the altar in a wheelchair
  • On Sunday morning, Pope Francis is expected to celebrate the Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square. Tens of thousands are expected to attend

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Pope Francis presides over the Easter Vigil in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday. Photo: Vatican Media / ­Handout via Reuters
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On Holy Saturday, Pope Francis celebrated the festive Easter Vigil commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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Around 8,000 spectators attended the celebration, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency.

In his homily, the pope condemned the “rampant injustice” and the “icy winds of war” that he said prevailed in the world. However, he said, Easter encourages people and gives them hope.
A procession of cardinals, bishops and priests during the Easter Vigil mass at St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican on Saturday. Photo: Handout / Vatican Media / AFP
A procession of cardinals, bishops and priests during the Easter Vigil mass at St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican on Saturday. Photo: Handout / Vatican Media / AFP

“It motivates us to move forward, to leave behind the sense of defeat, and to look to the future with confidence because Christ is risen and has changed the course of history,” said Francis.

On the Holy Night before Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross.

The ceremony sees an Easter candle be brought into St Peter’s Basilica in complete darkness, to symbolise life without faith.

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The candles of the priests and faithful are then lit to the “Lumen Christi” (Light of Christ) chant. Once bells sound, announcing that Jesus has risen, the basilica fills with light.

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