Pope, Looking Well, Says Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square

A healthy-looking Pope John Paul II led Roman Catholics in Easter Sunday celebrations and prayed for a victory over death in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ireland, the Middle East and the world’s other trouble spots.

The 75-year-old pontiff appeared in good form as he celebrated Mass before more than 100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, read his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and wished the world a happy Easter in 57 languages.

“The Lord is risen and grants to those who share in his triumph over death the courage and the strength to continue to build up a new humanity by refusing every kind of violence, sectarianism and injustice,” he said.

In his Easter message, the Polish pope appeared to be responding to recent speculation by some scholars that Jesus did not actually rise from the dead in body but only in spirit in the minds of his followers.

“The Lord has indeed risen . . . today, the successor of [St.] Peter bears witness once again to the Lord’s resurrection,” he said. “Yes, we know for certain that Christ is truly risen from the dead.”

Easter is the most important day in the church’s liturgical calendar because Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection from death was the central part of God’s plan for redemption.

The question of whether the resurrection was a bodily one has been debated for centuries but has taken on fresh interest recently because of a series of books and conferences.

Despite recent poor health, the pope recited and sang Sunday’s Mass and delivered his message in a very strong voice.