[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] On the 11th, a day before Easter Sunday (local time), Pope Francis sent a message of hope to the world, where the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, urging "Do not succumb to fear."
According to AP News and others, the Pope said at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on the last day of the Paschal Triduum, "We are all going through the darkest times." The Mass was held with a significantly reduced number of attendees due to the spread of COVID-19. The Pope is also scheduled to celebrate the Easter Mass on the 12th without any congregation.
Typically, about 10,000 people attend the Easter Vigil Mass held at St. Peter's Basilica. Recently, due to the impact of COVID-19, the Vatican has conducted the Mass with only the Pope and some personnel assisting with the Mass present, broadcasting it online. Usually, the Easter Vigil Mass includes a ceremony where the Pope directly baptizes new Catholic believers, but this was omitted this year due to COVID-19.
In his homily, the Pope compared the fear experienced by the disciples on the day Jesus Christ was crucified and died, and the day they found Jesus missing from the tomb, to the fear felt worldwide today amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pope said, "The disciples, like us, were facing a drama of pain that happened so suddenly, an unexpected tragedy right before their eyes. They witnessed death, and it weighed heavily on their hearts. They too had fear for the future and had to rebuild everything."
He continued, "It was the darkest time for the disciples, just as it is for us now," emphasizing, "Do not be afraid and do not succumb to fear. These are words God repeats to us tonight as well." He also urged to stop arms trading and wars, to cease abortion and the killing of innocent lives, and called on Christians to become "messengers of life in an age of death."
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