LIVE: Pope Leo XIV leads Easter Sunday Mass at Vatican and delivers Urbi et Orbi blessing

Now we can see the thousands of flowers and arrangements that line the steps leading up to the platform in St. Peter's Square. And these have come from all around Italy and the Netherlands. And this is part of the Holy Week celebrations where the staff of the gardens and environment service of the Vatican City have organized these arrangements and artistic creations through these donated plants and flowers.

Now these flowers are part of a 40-year tradition dating back to the time of St. John Paul II and the Dutch florists and decorators who had this agreement after the Dutch florists donated these flowers and the tradition has continued to today.

As we await Pope Leo's arrival in St. Peter's Square to celebrate his first Easter Sunday Mass of his pontificate, following the vigil Mass yesterday that he celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica. And during this Mass, he reflected on good, evil, and rebirth. Easter, the Pope said, quoting from an ancient hymn, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. While the heart of the Easter story is Jesus' resurrection from the dead, Pope Leo said the holy mystery of Easter, the Easter Vigil, extends across the centuries.

The entrance procession of the Eucharistic celebration is about to commence. You are invited to participate with faith and with recollection in Holy Mass, avoiding applause and refraining from raising banners or waving flags.

So again, last night celebrating the Easter Vigil Mass, Pope Leo also spoke about the path of reconciliation and grace from God's creation of the world to the Israelites' flight from Egypt to the ministry of St. Paul and how this is a theme throughout salvation history. And Pope Leo stressed, "God responds to the hardness of sin which divides and kills with the power of love which unites and restores life."

Now of course with Easter it also signifies new birth, a new beginning with the resurrection of Jesus. Hence also the flowers and the feeling of spring and renewal that comes at this time of year as well. And here in Rome, it is beginning to feel a lot like spring as the weather has warmed and the skies are clear. Perfect weather for this outside Mass in St. Peter's Square.

And as we hear the opening hymn of this Mass, this Easter Mass, the hymn is "O Sons and Daughters of the King Whom Heavenly Hosts in Glory Sing, Today the Grave Has Lost Its Sting, Alleluia."

Now, as we see at the... as the deacon reads, "The Lord has risen from the tomb who for us hung upon the tree. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah."

"It is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. Hallelujah. Hallelujah."

And now Pope Leo makes his way in front of the icon of Jesus, the risen Lord, and venerates it also with incense.

Now taking the blessed holy water is blessing the assembly on this Easter Sunday as we hear the hymn Vidi Aqua. I saw water flowing from the temple.

Let us pray. ... who through your only begotten Son ... of the Lord's resurrection through the renewal brought by your Spirit, rise up in the light of life through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son ... of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

And as we prepare to hear the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, I'd like to welcome all those joining us through Mondovision. Very special welcome to all of you.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In those days, Peter opened his mouth and said, "You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed. ... how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil. For God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to appear, not to all the people, but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

The response is: This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it and be glad.

Now the second reading is taken from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians 3:1 to 4. Brothers and sisters, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Now ahead of the Gospel we hear the Easter sequence that begins: Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

The Lord be with you. ... A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple and they were going towards the tomb. Both of them were running together. But the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there and the facecloth which had been on the head of Jesus, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead. The Gospel of the Lord.

And now after hearing the Gospel in Latin, we now hear a greeting and then the Gospel in Greek.

Let us stand upright. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Peace be with you.

And now Pope Leo kisses the book of the Gospel and blesses all of us both in the square and at home with the Gospel.

And now we'll hear Pope Leo's reflection on this Easter Sunday, his first Easter Sunday Mass as Pontiff.

And we just take a few moments to reflect on the words of Pope Leo on this Easter Sunday and the call for all of us to hope and be a light of hope in this world.

Pray the Creed in Latin.

The response is: Our prayer ... for the church comforted by the living Christ. Experience the joy of encountering the risen Christ. Show everyone the fruit. Let us pray to the Lord.

The Easter sacraments ... the faith they have received. Let us pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for peoples torn apart by war. May nations see an end to the conflict, that hatred ... and may they promote peace throughout the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for those who suffer from poverty. ... assured of what is necessary for a dignified life. Let us pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the deceased freed from the power of death. May our deceased brothers and sisters contemplate the open gates of the heavenly kingdom and know the joy of the beatific vision of your merciful face. Let us pray to the Lord.

... by your Son. Bring ... the prayer that ... church ... that ... may rise ... through Christ. Amen.

Now, as some pilgrims from around the world bring the gifts to the Holy Father, as we transition to the liturgy of the Eucharist, we hear the offertory chant, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice in it and be glad. Alleluia."

And now we offer each other a sign of peace on this Easter Sunday, and that extends to all of you who are listening or watching at home.

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Now the communion antiphon comes from 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Alleluia. Let us therefore celebrate the festival.

For those who cannot now physically receive holy communion, we offer an act of spiritual communion. My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most holy sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you.

And now we just take a few moments in silence before the prayer after communion.

O God, so that the glory of the resurrection. Amen.

The Lord be with you.

Bow down for the blessing.

To a close celebration, come with Christ in eternal joy. Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God come down on you and remain.

Go forth. The mass is ended.

And that concludes the mass, the holy mass on Easter Sunday, the Pope's first. As we see again the icon of the risen Lord that's also present at the altar here at St. Peter's Square.

As we see the cardinals, bishops, and priests processing back into the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Leo celebrated his first Easter Sunday mass with about 50,000 people from around the world in St. Peter's Square and another 10,000 outside of St. Peter's Square. So, a very full square for this, his first Easter Sunday mass of his pontificate. And once again, we see the beauty of the different floral arrangements from around Italy and the Netherlands, lining the stairs leading up to the basilica.

Now, as we saw, there were the Gendarmes and the Swiss guards also present in their full attire outside in St. Peter's Square in front of the altar where Pope Leo is celebrating mass. And they typically provide a ceremonial honor guard during this Easter mass. And it is a tradition to have both these different guards as well as the police guards during high events like this and at Christmas time as well.

And as is typical, as we see the central loggia or balcony of St. Peter's Square — excuse me, of St. Peter's Basilica — decked out typically on Christmas and Easter and other special occasions. The Pope will offer his urbi et orbi blessing. That means the blessing to the city of Rome and to the world. And it is the papal blessing that is extended to everyone around the world on these special occasions.

As I mentioned, sometimes the blessing can take place not just on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. For example, one that has gone down in history and will be remembered was the historic blessing in March of 2019 when Pope Francis made the blessing in St. Peter's Square to ask for the end of the coronavirus pandemic. And it was in the face of this great situation that the pope presided over an extraordinary moment of prayer at the Vatican, imparting this special urbi et orbi blessing with a plenary indulgence to bring to the end of the pandemic.

So the primary feature of this urbi et orbi blessing is that it offers forgiveness for sins that have already been absolved. So the sacrament of reconciliation or confession, our sins are pardoned, thereby reinstating us in God's grace. Nevertheless, the disarray created in our wrongdoing still necessitates reparation and compensation through the penance administered in the sacrament, good deeds, and purification in purgatory. So the urbi et orbi blessing, as well as other plenary indulgences, permit the reparation and compensation still required, that is, allowing us to gain direct entry to heaven without further delay, provided we do not fall into sin again. And so to earn this indulgence, which we will receive today with the blessing, it is critical to regret past sins and commit to confessing and receiving the Eucharist as soon as possible.

Now the urbi et orbi blessing is effective for anyone who receives it with faith and reverence, including those who watch it online or through mass media such as television or radio. So that extends to all of you from wherever you are joining us, whether you're watching or listening through radio or television.

So as we take a few moments and see the beautiful images of St. Peter's Square, let's look back also at Pope Leo's homily that we've just heard a few moments ago. So he reflected on the fact that Easter brings us the thought of creation in a new light, as Christ has risen from the dead. And so we too rise to new life. And so the Easter proclamation, he said, embraces the mystery of our lives and the destiny of history, reaching us even when we feel like we're in the depths of death, when we feel threatened and overwhelmed by daily events and the commitments we have to make.

The Pope reiterated that Easter opens us up to a hope that never fails, a light that never fades, and a fullness of joy that nothing can take away. So the Holy Father was giving us these encouraging words today, this morning. Also in light of the context of the world, he pointed out that the Easter message is not always easy to accept and that it's a promise that we struggle to embrace. But again, the Passover of the Lord invites us to lift our gaze and open our hearts.

And for those of you who have the images on your screen, you see the Swiss Guard ceremonial honor guard now processing out of the square in their traditional Renaissance colors and armor, as well as with the halberd, which is the spear-looking lance, as well as carrying the flag of the Vatican, the Holy See.

And with the sounds of the drums, this ends our live broadcast of Easter Sunday celebrated by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV from St. Peter's Square. So to look back at this and any other event, please visit our Vatican News website, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube accounts. My name is Kelsey Gussy, and it has been my pleasure providing the English commentary for you today. On behalf of Vatican Media, I would like to thank our sound engineer, Patrizio Ciapradi, and our audio coordinator, Silvano Proz, and all our media partners: EWTN TV, Catholic Faith Network in America, Salt and Light TV, Shalom World TV, Adomaran TV, Catholic TV, Mondo Vision, and all our radio partners: Radio India, SiriusXM Radio in New York City, and Radio Maria Lithuania. A very blessed Easter to all of you. Make sure to stay tuned for the urbi et orbi blessing from the balcony.

Praise be Jesus Christ. Welcome back to this live broadcast of the message and urbi et orbi blessing from the central loggia or balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. On behalf of all of us at Vatican Media, a very happy and blessed Easter Sunday to all of you joining us from around the world.

My name is Kelsey Gussy, and I'll be providing the English language commentary and translations for this event. From wherever you are joining us, I would like to welcome all of you joining us through all of our media partners: EWTN TV, Catholic Faith Network in America, Salt and Light TV, Shalom World TV, Adomaran TV, Catholic TV, Uganda Catholic Television, and all our listeners with Luminous Radio India, SiriusXM Radio in New York City, and Radio Maria Lithuania. A very special welcome. And a special welcome also to all of you joining us through Mondo Vision.

For those of you who tuned into the Easter Sunday Mass with Pope Leo, I mentioned how this urbi et orbi blessing is traditional to happen on Easter Sunday and on Christmas Day. And this is the blessing that literally means urbi et orbi, to the city of Rome and to the world. And we now see Pope Leo coming onto the central loggia or balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, as he did on Christmas, but then also on the day of his election.

We're once again hearing the different bands present in St. Peter's Square that include the military and Gendarmerie bands as well as the Swiss Guard ceremonial honor guard.