Pope Francis presides over a daytime mass in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday with tens of thousands of believers to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection.
Deborah Castellano Luboff
Pope Francis presided over Mass in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday, commemorating the Lord's Resurrection, as the Church celebrates the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
On Easter Sunday, tens of thousands of believers filled the spring-like St. Peter's Square.
The Pope presided over Mass on the solemnity of the Lord's Resurrection, or simply Easter Sunday.
Following a tradition dating back to 1985, Vatican Square was decorated with Dutch flowers.
Pope Francis at Easter Mass
The Pope had already preached the Easter homily at the Easter Vigil Mass the night before in St. Peter's Basilica, so there was no separate homily given during the day Mass, as is customary.
During the Paschal Vigil Mass, the Pope reflected on the amazement and astonishment of the women who visited the tomb where Jesus was buried, and recounted in detail the amazing story of the Lord's Resurrection.
After this morning's Easter Mass, the Pope celebrated the midday Urbi e Orbi from the central loggia, or balcony, of St. Peter's Basilica, offering his apostolic blessing to the people of Rome and to the whole world.
But first in St. Peter's Square, and throughout, the Pope circled among the joyful pilgrims. Via Conciliazionehe greeted happily, waving from the Pope's mobile phone.
Pope Francis circles and waves to the crowd after Easter Mass
Easter Mass on Sunday morning follows the Easter Triduum and concludes with Vespers on Sunday evening.
However, the Easter liturgical period continues until the Solemnity of Pentecost in May.
