During the Easter Sunday morning Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Francis called on the faithful to hasten to seek the risen Lord, just as the first disciples did on that first Easter morning. Pope’s homily, read by Cardinal Angelo Comastri who presided over the Mass on his behalf, urged all believers to embrace the Easter message with joy and renewed hope.

Over fifty thousand pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, which was adorned with a breathtaking display of flowers provided by Dutch florists, marking the 39th year of their contribution. The vibrant floral arrangements added to the celebratory spirit of the Resurrection.

In his message, Pope Francis reflected on the urgency shown by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John in running to the empty tomb. Their haste, he said, was not only driven by concern but also by a deep yearning to find Jesus. This, he explained, is the posture every believer should adopt – an active, heartfelt search for the risen Christ.

Pope emphasized that Easter proclaims a profound truth: Christ is risen and alive. No longer confined to death, he is present in our lives, especially in the people we encounter and the situations we face daily. Pope reminded the faithful that Christ is not found in the tomb, but among us, shedding tears with those who suffer and shining through small acts of love.

Welcoming the risen Lord into our hearts calls us to action. Easter faith invites us to move forward, to seek Jesus with eyes that look beyond appearances, and to recognize him as the living Lord who walks with us, supports us, and reveals himself in surprising ways.

Pope Francis acknowledged that just as Mary Magdalene experienced the loss of the Lord, so too can we feel distant from him at times. Yet, like her, we are invited to search again each day, with the assurance that Christ will allow himself to be found and will fill us with the light of his resurrection.

Pope described the resurrection as the greatest hope of our lives. Even in the face of our human fragility and suffering, we can cling to Christ, who has triumphed over death and darkness. This hope, he said, is not just for ourselves but must be shared with others.

In this Jubilee Year, Pope Francis invited everyone to renew the gift of hope within them, to entrust their worries to it, and to pass it on to others. He encouraged the faithful not to settle for fleeting joys or be overcome by sadness, but to run with joy to meet the Lord and rediscover the priceless grace of friendship with him.

Concluding his message, Pope offered a powerful proclamation of Easter faith: with the risen Lord, everything becomes new. Through him, every day is a new beginning.