On March 27th, 2020, Pope Francis ascended slowly and alone the long stone ramp that leads from Saint Peter Square to the majestic front doors of the Vatican Basilica. Usually filled with thousands of pilgrims whenever the Pope is present, this atypical night found Saint Peter Square with only a handful of curious bystanders under umbrellas as rain fell and soaked not only the Holy Father, but also the historic crucifix from the Church of Saint Marcellus which was carried in procession throughout the city of Rome in 1522 to implore for the end of the plague.
The desolate Square with only the Pope present captured the darkness that descended upon the whole world in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic raged and uncertainty invaded every aspect of human existence. “A think darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities. We find ourselves afraid and lost,” began the Pope’s address. If you did the same as I did that evening, we were watching this remarkable event live along with millions of others, and we were internalizing every word uttered by Pope Francis.
A reoccurring motif arose in the Pope’s discourse where he quoted the words of Jesus to his disciples when they grew terrified in the midst of a storm: “why are you afraid? Have you yet no faith?” At one of the darkest moments of modern times, the message of the Gospel resounded clearly as the Pope gave a Eucharistic Blessing as well as the Urbi et Orbiblessing to the world from the portico of the Basilica. The cloudy night sky and faint lighting expressed the weighty sentiment of the moment, but at the same time, the blessing received made a great hope sprout. Seven times Pope Francis used the word “hope” toward the end of his address, reminding us that in the darkness, we can remain anchored securely with our hope in Jesus Christ.
Every Easter night, as soon as the sun sets, a fire it lit outside every Catholic Church, and that light enters a darkened church. Very quickly the light spreads as the faithful light their candles from the one Paschal Candle. The darkness that descended upon the earth when Jesus died is once again vanquished by the light of his Resurrection remembered on Easter. “[Let us embrace] the Lord in order to embrace hope. This is the strength of hope which brings us from fear,” said the Pope.
The mystery that is the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus is experienced throughout history and our lives. Darkness gives way to light, storms to calm, and death to life. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us an unshakable hope that allows us to proclaim with boldness that darkness and death never have the final word. It is the Resurrection that permitted Pope Francis to walk alone at Saint Peter Square in the midst of much fear and darkness to implore confidently God’s blessing upon the world. The empty tomb that Mary Magdalene found on Easter morning informs every decision and moment of the Christian life. Whatever challenges still may lie ahead, we walk securely because Jesus has been raised from the dead, alleluia!
Picture from Vatican News (here)
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