Holy Week culminated today with the solemn Easter Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square, followed by the traditional Easter message from the central loggia of the Basilica and the *Urbi et Orbi* blessing to Rome and the entire world. More than 50,000 faithful from all corners of the globe gathered in the square and along the Via della Conciliazione to accompany the Pontiff on this first Easter of his pontificate. Afterward, the Pope toured the square in the popemobile, greeting the crowds warmly under a splendid Roman spring sky.

In his homily during Mass and in his Urbi et Orbi message, the Holy Father focused his reflection on the profound contemporary significance of Christ’s resurrection. In a world shrouded in darkness—marked by conflict, arrogance, authoritarianism, imperialism, social injustices, the oppression of the poor and migrants, and scant attention to the most vulnerable—Easter announces the arrival of light and the beginning of a new era. Leo XIV recalled that we have become accustomed to violence, war, calamities, and injustices, falling into a “globalization of indifference,” an expression favored by his predecessor, Francis. “We cannot remain indifferent,” he insisted. “We must react. We cannot have the feeling that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, because the light exists: it is the resurrection of Christ.”

The Pope emphasized that the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, was not achieved through force or arrogance, but through the cross. “Jesus took upon himself all the crosses of humanity,” he affirmed, recalling how he himself carried the 14 Stations of the Cross. He especially invited those who wield weapons and those who possess the power to decide on war to choose peace, reconciliation, and dialogue: “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through encounter and dialogue; not with a desire to dominate, but to encounter the other.”

Unlike previous Easter messages, which tended to focus on specific regional conflicts (America, Africa, Asia, etc.), Leo XIV opted for a broader and more elevated vision: a general view of a world immersed in darkness, yet called to transformation through the sacrifice of the cross. He recalled with emotion that, exactly one year earlier, Pope Francis had appeared for the last time in that same central loggia, simply to wish everyone a Happy Easter and take a ride in the popemobile; the very next day, the Vatican announced his death.

Another new feature was the expansion of Easter greetings: Pope Leo XIV wished everyone a “Happy Easter” in ten languages—Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, German, Polish, Arabic, Chinese, and Latin—a more limited gesture than the dozens of languages ​​used by John Paul II, but one that sought to reach a large part of the world in a personal way. His greeting in Spanish elicited a particularly enthusiastic ovation from the faithful.

Saturday night’s Easter Vigil was especially symbolic: the Pope baptized ten adult catechumens (five Romans, two Britons, two Portuguese, and one Korean). The basilica, initially in complete darkness, was gradually illuminated after the blessing of the fire and the Paschal candle with the Alpha and Omega, a reminder that the resurrection brings light and new creation. Leo XIV urged us not to be paralyzed by evil, but to give life to “a new world of peace and unity.”

St. Peter’s Square looked spectacular: a veritable springtime garden with 65,000 tulips and nearly 8,000 different types of flowers, donated by Dutch flower growers. This tradition is now 40 years old; it began in 1986 as a gift to John Paul II after his visit to the Netherlands and has been repeated every Easter, transforming the square into a burst of color and beauty that celebrates the arrival of spring and new life.

This first Holy Week under Pope Leo XIV was marked by his profound concern for the conflicts that are bleeding the world—especially in the Middle East—and by his insistent calls for peace, for a change of heart, and for purification. Aware of the power of prayer in the face of evil, the Pontiff announced a Prayer Vigil for Peace to be held next Saturday, April 11, in St. Peter’s Basilica, inviting the faithful from all over the world to join.

Tomorrow, Easter Monday (Easter Monday in Italy), the Pope will appear on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Regina Coeli (no longer the Angelus, as we have entered the Easter season). While Italy enjoys a holiday with outdoor picnics, the central message remains: in the midst of darkness, the resurrection of Christ invites us not to succumb to pessimism or indifference, but to work with hope for a world of light, justice, and peace.

Happy Easter to all! May the Risen Lord enlighten our hearts and grant his peace to the whole world.