Vatican City: During the Wednesday General Audience held at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV delivered a profound reflection on the transformative power of Christ’s Resurrection, describing it as a beacon of hope in a world often overshadowed by suffering and uncertainty.
Addressing the faithful, the Pope observed, “Even our time, marked by so many crosses, invokes the dawn of Paschal hope.” He highlighted that the Resurrection of Christ is far more than a theological concept it is a tangible Event that forms the foundation of Christian faith.
In his catechesis, Pope Leo XIV underscored that truly embracing the Resurrection demands a revolution in the way believers live. By doing so, Christians can become agents of change, transmitting hope through “the gentle and courageous power of Christian hope.” He urged followers to witness Christ’s light even in moments when human history appears devoid of direction: “Paschal hope does not disappoint,” he affirmed.
The Pope elaborated on how the Resurrection provides clarity amidst life’s chaos, offering answers to the deep human longing for meaning. “In Him, we have the assurance of always being able to find the lodestar towards which we can direct our seemingly chaotic lives, marked by events that often appear confusing, unacceptable, and incomprehensible,” he said, referencing the pervasive presence of suffering, evil, and death.
By framing the Resurrection as both care and healing, the Pope emphasized its capacity to nurture hope on personal and global levels. In the Easter perspective, the Way of the Cross transforms into the Way of Light, urging the faithful to meditate on the joy that follows pain and to revisit life’s challenges through the lens of resurrection.
Pope Leo XIV stressed that Christ’s Easter is not a distant memory or a relic of tradition. Rather, it is a present reality made tangible through yearly Easter celebrations and the daily Eucharist. “The Paschal Mystery is the cornerstone of Christian life, around which all other events revolve… every day is Easter,” he affirmed.
He described the human heart as constantly oscillating between suffering and joy, yearning for profound fulfillment. Drawing on St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), the Pope noted that human dynamism emerges from the persistent search for meaning, where each moment both gives and takes away from us. “We are immersed in limitation, but we also strive to surpass it,” he explained.
In light of humanity’s perpetual longing for the infinite and the eternal, Pope Leo XIV described the Resurrection as “the most beautiful, joyful, and overwhelming news that has ever resounded in all of history.” He affirmed that this central proclamation the victory of love over sin and life over death is uniquely capable of satisfying the human quest for meaning.
Quoting St. Francis, he acknowledged the inevitability of death and human suffering, while highlighting that the Resurrection transforms the course of history, offering hope that transcends mortal limitations. The Pope concluded by recalling the Gospel account: when the women went to anoint Christ’s body, they instead encountered “the mysterious youth dressed in white,” proclaiming, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here” (Mk 16:6).
Through this timeless message, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that the light of the Resurrection is a living force guiding, healing, and inspiring humanity to hope even in the darkest corners of history.