Pope offers a message of love in vigil Mass

Pope Benedict XVI carried a tall candle symbolizing hope into a darkened St. Peter’s Basilica packed with faithful Saturday night in the traditional start of the Vatican’s vigil Mass on the eve of Easter.

A chant of “Lumen Christi” -- Latin for “Light of Christ” -- echoed in the basilica.

Then the vast space began twinkling with light as cardinals and other prelates lighted their candles from the pope’s Easter candle and, one by one, members of the congregation lighted their neighbor’s candle in a quick succession of flames.

A light switch was thrown, and the Mass began, led by Benedict, dressed in gold and white vestments.

Easter Sunday is Christianity’s most important feast day, when the faithful mark their belief in Jesus’ resurrection after death by crucifixion. For Christians worldwide, Easter represents God’s promise of eternal life after death, of love’s triumph over death.

Benedict prayed that Christians would “shine as lights in the world” amid “the confusions of this age” and amid the search for values to put “order” in our lives.

“The gravitational pull of love is stronger than that of hatred; the force of gravity of life is stronger than that of death,” Benedict said in his homily.

A motif of life overcoming difficult trials figured in Benedict’s Good Friday homily, as he sought to encourage survivors of Italy’s devastating earthquake to cling to hope and take solace in Easter’s joy.

The earthquake in the central mountainous region of Abruzzo claimed the lives of at least 293 people and left 40,000 homeless.