He later added: “I entrust to the Lord all those who have tragically perished, and I pray for the injured and all those who suffer as a result of this tragic event.” Every year after leading Easter Mass, the pope delivers an “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and the world”) message, which addresses global issues and conflicts.<doc-sep>Pope Francis led Catholics into Easter at a vigil Mass on Saturday night and called on worshippers to live for God, not fleeting things such as wealth or success. The Pontiff held the service in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and carved into a candle the number to mark the year 2019 and the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and Omega, to signify that God is the beginning and end of all things. Francis also delivered his homily around the Bible account of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb only to find it empty and the large stone that had sealed it had been cast away. Reuters “God takes away even the hardest stones against which our hopes and expectations crash: death, sin, fear, worldliness,” the pontiff said. Adding: “There is another stone that often seals the heart shut: the stone of sin. Sin seduces; it promises things easy and quick, prosperity and success, but then leaves behind only solitude and death. Sin is looking for life among the dead, for the meaning of life in things that pass away.” Reuters Easter is the most important day in the Roman Catholic calendar, which commemorates the day believers say Jesus rose from the dead. Pope Francis will hold a mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City and read the “Urbi et Orbi” (To The City and The World) message.<doc-sep>Cardinal George Pell will be remanded in custody until March 13th after being found guilty of child sex abuse. Cardinal George Pell will be remanded in custody until March 13th after being found guilty of child sex abuse.... Pope Francis has carried a lit candle up the main aisle of a darkened St Peter’s Basilica in a dramatic Easter vigil ritual. The pontiff, prelates, and other faithful also clutching candles appeared as slow-moving points of light in darkness, part of a procession symbolising Christians’ belief that Jesus triumphed over death by resurrection following crucifixion. At the chant in Latin for “light of Christ”, the basilica’s lights were suddenly switched on. Francis then reached the central altar to celebrate Easter Vigil Mass. Among those attending the service on Easter Saturday were eight people who prepared to be baptised by the pope. The Vatican said these new faithful are from Italy, Albania, Ecuador, Indonesia and Peru. On Sunday, Francis celebrates Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square and gives a speech from the basilica balcony. Pope Francis will live stream Easter Sunday services from the Vatican again this year. Following Holy Week and a packed schedule of events Francis and other church officials will bring the celebrations and commemorations to a close on Sunday. The services will be streamed from the Vatican on its YouTube channel as well as by the CatholicTV Network for those who have access to it.<doc-sep>Pope Francis will live stream Easter Sunday services from the Vatican again this year. Scheduled for 10 a.m. in Italy (4 a.m. EDT) on Easter Sunday, the services will be open to anyone to attend. The services will also be replayed throughout the day in case you missed the live stream. Following Holy Week and a packed schedule of events Pope Francis and other church officials will bring the celebrations and commemorations to a close on Sunday. Lent, the period of time leading up to Easter that begins on Ash Wednesday, officially ended Thursday ahead of the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening. The Easter Mass was scheduled to take place in St.Peter's Square that can hold up to 80,000 people. The area of the square that has seating does require tickets for the mass but the rest of it where there is standing room only usually doesn't require a ticket, said the Vatican. Tickets can be picked up for free from the Swiss Guards at the Vatican near Bronze Door in St. Peter's Square three days ahead of the mass. For those who are unable or don't want to try and see the mass or the blessing in person, the whole thing is streamed online. The live stream makes it easy for anyone with an internet-enabled device to celebrate Easter Mass with the pope without being at the Vatican. The services are streamed from the Vatican on its YouTube channel as well as by the CatholicTV Network for those who have access to it. Watch Pope Francis Easter Mass from the Vatican: Easter Sunday Live Stream schedule: Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square is expected to begin at 10 a.m. in Italy (4 a.m. EDT.) The "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the Pope is expected at noon in Italy at the conclusion of the mass. The mass will be broadcast again throughout the day both on Catholic TV and likely also on Vatican News. During last year's liturgy for the Easter Mass Pope Francis gave three things he was inspired to say by the Gospel proclamation, said the Vatican. The first was that God surprises people, the second was that people should respond quickly to those surprises and the third was about the question "What about me?" The pope said that people should ask what surprises from God mean to them and how they were prepared to handle those surprises. He also took time during the mass to call for peace throughout the world highlighting Syria and Venezuela.<doc-sep>
Slideshow ( 9 images ) VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis led the world’s Roman Catholics into Easter at a vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday night, urging the faithful to live not for transient things like wealth and success but for God. The largest church in Christendom was dark at the start of the long service as the pope carved into a candle the numbers of the year 2019 and the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet - Alpha and Omega - signifying that God is the beginning and end of all things. Easter, the most important day in the Church’s liturgical calendar, commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead. Francis, marking his seventh Easter season as pope, wove his homily around the Bible account of the women who went to Jesus’ tomb only to find it empty and the large stone that had sealed it had been cast away. “God takes away even the hardest stones against which our hopes and expectations crash: death, sin, fear, worldliness,” he said. “There is another stone that often seals the heart shut: the stone of sin. Sin seduces; it promises things easy and quick, prosperity and success, but then leaves behind only solitude and death. Sin is looking for life among the dead, for the meaning of life in things that pass away,” he said. During the Mass, Francis welcomed eight adult converts into the Church, conferring on them the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. They were from Italy, Albania, Ecuador, Indonesia and Peru. On Sunday, the 82-year-old leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics is due to say a Mass in St. Peter’s Square and read the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (To The City and The World) message.