NEWSWATCH | KAIROS GLOBAL | MAY 2024

Author: Sam Biju, Sttutgart, Germany

Embracing Hope: Pope Francis Leads Easter Vigil, Calls for Resilience amidst Life's ‘Tombstones’

On April 30th, Pope Francis led the Easter vigil Mass at St Peter's Basilica, emphasising the profound significance of Easter as a symbol of God's renewed hope and the ultimate affirmation of life prevailing over death.

Concerns arose the night before regarding the Pope's well-being after he unexpectedly cancelled his attendance at Rome's Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). The Holy See Press Office explained that the Pope chose to prioritise his health for the extensive Easter vigil liturgy.

‘This Easter is the Pasch of Christ, the revelation of God's might: the triumph of life over death, the victory of light over darkness, the resurgence of hope amidst the wreckage of despair. It is the Lord, the God of the impossible, who has forever removed the stone,’ stated the Pope on Saturday, addressing nearly 6,000 devoted individuals gathered in St Peter's.

‘He is the one who guides us from darkness to light, who remains steadfastly with us, who saves us from the depths of sin and death, and leads us into the luminous realm of forgiveness and everlasting life,’ the Pope elaborated in his sermon.

The poignant ceremony commenced with St Peter's Basilica enveloped in darkness. Positioned before the 15th-century Filarete Door, adorned with a white curtain and an embroidered tapestry depicting the Resurrected Christ, the Holy Father began the ritual.

Using a cross and the symbols of Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), the Pope marked the white Paschal candle, symbolising the resurrection of Christ and the Christian belief in a new life through him.

Pope Francis opened his homily by reflecting on the anguish and consternation of the women depicted in the Gospel, who, with ‘the tears of Good Friday ... not yet dried,’ approached the tomb that had been obstructed with a stone.

‘That stone, an overwhelming obstacle, symbolised what the women felt in their hearts. It represented the end of their hopes, now dashed by the obscure and sorrowful mystery that put an end to their dreams. That stone marked the end of Jesus’ story, now buried in the night of death. He, the life that came into the world, had been killed,’ the Pope continued. But, the Pope noted, the women, upon casting their gazes upward, found the stone rolled away, a moment showcasing ‘the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope amid the ruins of failure.’

The Pope related the initial anguish, and hope, of the women present at the sepulchre, noting that today we ‘encounter such “tombstones” on our journey through life in all the experiences and situations that rob us of enthusiasm and of the strength to persevere.’ Nevertheless, the Pope urged believers not to give in to hopelessness but instead find hope in the Resurrection.

‘If we allow Jesus to guide us, no matter how painful the experiences of failure or sorrow may be, they will not have the final say on the purpose and direction of our lives. From now on, if we allow ourselves to be lifted up by the Risen Lord, no setback, no suffering, no death will be able to hinder our journey towards complete life,’ the Pope affirmed. ‘Then no obstacle will obstruct the path to our hearts, no tomb will suppress the joy of life, no setback will condemn us to despair,’ the Pope continued. ‘Let us look up to him and pray that the force of his resurrection may remove the heavy burdens weighing on our souls.’

Concluding the homily with a moment of contemplation, Pope Francis proceeded with the baptismal ceremony. Through the blessing of the water and a public declaration of vows, the Holy Father personally baptised eight adults: four Italians, two Koreans, a Japanese, and an Albanian.

Richard Dawkins expresses concerns on decline of Christianity

Renowned British atheist Richard Dawkins, known for his book The God Delusion, recently mentioned in an interview that he describes himself as a ‘cultural Christian’ and has a preference for Christianity over Islam, despite emphasising that he does not believe in ‘a word’ of the Christian faith. Speaking with Rachel Johnson on LBC, broadcasted on March 31, Dawkins shared his slight dismay upon learning that Oxford Street in London was promoting Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, rather than Easter.

He elaborated, stating, ‘I believe our culture is predominantly Christian. I personally consider myself a cultural Christian.’ Dawkins made a distinction between being a practising Christian and being someone who appreciates the cultural aspects of Christianity, explaining, ‘Although I'm not a religious believer, I have an affinity for hymns and Christmas carols, and I feel a sense of belonging within the Christian ethos. In that sense, I believe our country has a Christian foundation.’

Despite expressing contentment over what he views as a decrease in the number of Christians, the prominent atheist expressed concern about the potential loss of cathedrals and parish churches, stating, ‘Thus, I label myself as a cultural Christian, and I believe it would be quite unfortunate if we were to replace it with any alternative religion.’

In response to whether he views the decrease in church attendance and the construction of approximately 6,000 mosques, with many more in the planning stages, as an issue, Dawkins replied, ‘Certainly, yes. I have to be precise with my words: If I had to make a choice between Christianity and Islam, I would choose Christianity without hesitation.’

He further elaborated, stating, ‘To me, Christianity appears to be inherently a good-natured religion ...’ When pressed on this viewpoint, Dawkins explained, ‘Christianity has its own issues, particularly concerning the treatment of women, as seen with the struggles involving female vicars and bishops. However, I believe there exists an active hostility towards women that is advocated, in my view, by the sacred texts of Islam.’

After specifying that his comments were not directed at individual Muslims, the well-known atheist emphasised his appreciation for ‘residing in a society rooted in Christian culture, despite not subscribing to any Christian beliefs.’

Cover Performance of Million Little Miracles

Jesus Youth band Crosstoc’s singer, George Paul recently performed the cover of the song ‘Million Little Miracles’. The video, available on Kairos Studio YouTube channel, is quickly gaining attention.

The song was originally written by American contemporary worship bands Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, and released on April 30, 2021.