Now at the altar. A sacrifice in once and for all 2000 years ago. Father now another symbol of the risen lord. After the introduction, we will take part. Amen. [speaking in native language] dear Brothers And Sisters, blessings of the god our father the sprinkling of holy water revived in us in which we were immersed in order to rise again to new life. Our new father sacrificed on the cross, he make living watters flow. [speaking in native language] glory to you, the church is in a bath of water with the word of life. [speaking in native language] glory to you of spirit who turned the waters of baptism transform us. Holy father. Now taking the holy water. Take a moment to bless ourselves. [speaking in native language] name got the almighty god cleanse us of our sins. The cost for the two share at the table of his kingdom. Greetings. And we pray. [speaking in native language] of god, for your Only Begotten son has conquered death and unlocked us the path to eternity, we who keep the resurrection may, through the renewal brought by your spirit rise up in the light of life. [speaking in native language] amen. Our First Reading this morning taken from the book of the acts of the apostles. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] the reasons happening and japans, jesus of nazareth and now he began in galilee after john have been preaching baptism. God anointed him with the holy spirit and his power and because god was with him, jesus went about doing good and curing all who have fallen to the power of the devil. Those with me can witness to everything he did throughout the judeo and jerusalem itself. Its not the fact that they killed him by hanging him on the tree get three days after, god raised him and allowed him to be seen not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses god had chosen before hand. Now we are those witnesses we have eaten and drunk with him after hes resurrected from the dead and ordered us to proclaim this to his people and tell them that god is with everyone, alive or dead. To all who believe in jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. This day was made by the lord. We rejoice and are glad. Give thanks to the lord for he is good. His love has no and cry out and say his love have snow ends. The lords right hand, his right hand raised. I shall live. A stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. A marble in our eyes of local. You will now here proclaimed the second reading and i welcome all of those joining us. Stations picking up the world live telecast, especially goes through eurovision. A reading from the first letter of st. Paul to the corinthians. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to live in all the due so get rid of all the old yeast and make yourself into a completely new batch of bread. Unleavened, as you are meant to be. Christ our passover has been sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth. Now the traditional ancient Easter Sequence will be proclaimed. After the chanting of the glorious gospel. Our gospel this morning taken from the gospel authority st. John, it will be proclaimed first in the and and then greek. The deacon will now since the book of the gospels as they recognize the presence of christ speaking to us through his word. It was very early on, the first day, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb came running to simon peter and the other disciples, the one jesus loved. They have taken away the lord out of the tomb, he said and we dont know where they have put him. Peter set out with the other disciples to go to the tomb. They ran together but the other disciples reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the Linen Cloths Lying on the ground but did not going. Simon peter who was following now came up and went right in to the tomb, saw the linen cloth on the ground and also the cost that had been over his head. It was rolled up in place by itself. He reached the tomb first and also went in. He saw and he believed. This moment they found the teaching of scripture, he must rise from the dead. Now we prepare to hear the gospel in the original language in which it was written. First dialogue between the deacon and our holy father. Standing, let us listen to the holy gospel. Peace be with you. And with your spirit. Reading from the holy gospel according to john. Oh lord, praise to you. Praise to you oh lord, praise to you. The book of the gospels now being carried to our holy father. The word of god. [background noises] our holy father now, its not customary for him to provide a homily for this liturgy since he will be giving his message shortly after this liturgy. In 2018, he spoke and said after listening to the word of god, there were three things he wanted to say. He spoke about the proclamation that there was a proclamation the board has risen, traveled by Word Of Mouth ever since the early days of christianity. It became a reading, the board has risen. The women who went to anoint the lords body were met by surprise. Very similar to what he spoke about last night, God Surprises. Its been like this from the beginning of salvation history ever since our father abraham God Surprises us. One surprise always follows another. God is not able to make proclamation without surprising us the surprise is what moves your heart, it touches you, its what touches you in the very place you did not expect. To use the language of young people, he said surprises, you dont expect it. The haste with which the women run. God surprises places on a journey immediately without delay, they ran to seek simon and peter and they run as well. He remembered the shepherd on the first christmas night also ran to Go To Bethlehem and at the samaritan woman ran to tell her people about the man she met. Third thing, what about me ask do i have a heart open to God Surprises . In my capable of going quickly or dry set persists saying over and over again, ill do it tomorrow. Tomorrow. But the surprise tell me john and peter hastened. The couples gospel said john believed, peter also believed that in his own way. His faith somewhat clouded by regret. The surprising announcement and proclamation, hastening with the question, what do i do from this easter day . What will you do . We now profess our faith. [speaking in native language] and christs resurrection, the power of the spirit made us gods holy people. Let us lift up our prayers so the joy of easter might extend throughout the entire world. [speaking in native language] the Church Of God might recognize attitude in the Easter Community generated by the crucified and risen christ. For all the baptized washed by the blood and water that flowed from christ, renew the grace of the spirit. For all of humanity, the joyful Proclamation Bread throughout the world but in christ we have become one people called to walk in liberty and peace. For our families the past events might be celebrated with sincerity and truth and at the lords gift might be shared through hospitality before the suffering. [speaking in native language] for our lord to see Brothers And Sisters that they might not partake of the banquet in expectation of the final resurrection. Oh god, father of light who lightens the doctrines of the world by raising your son from the dead. Renew and us the desire to be faithful to our baptism our own labor might be your son jesus crucified, risen and alive in our midst forever. Amen. We now enter into the liturgy of the eucharist, the altar will be prepared, gifts of bread and wine placed on the altar, its a procession and then we will move into the consecration and wine will be transformed into the body and blood of jesus christ. For those following, follow eucharistic prayer one. Holy father. Now the candle. Altar has been decorated. Once again another member of 35 years. Purity, strength, connection. Now enter into this creation here. All of us join once again, the holy father, the priest. Liturgy. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] gladness how load, we offer sacrifices by which your crisis wonderfully reborn and nourished. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] its truly right and just our duty and salvation at all times a claim you board but on this day, yet more gloriously in christ our passover has been sacrificed for he is who has taken away the sins of the world. By dying he has to start death and by rising restore life. Therefore, overcome joy, every people exult in your praise and even the heavenly powers with the coming together, your glory. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] we now pray. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [bell ringing] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] we now pray. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] we are now invited to pray the lords prayer speaking in a native language. [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] [speaking in native language] amen. [speaking native langage] we call the lamb of god, we hold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb. Lord, i am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed. The holy father now receiving the risen lord in his body, blood, soul, and divinity and soon our Brothers And Sisters here will as well. Choir providing, saying our passover has been sacrifice, hallelujah, let us Keep The Faith with unlevened bread with purity and truth. We see once again used weddings, sitting tribute as we celebrate the banquet, The Wedding Banquet of the lamb. As the people who are here participating in this mass receive communion, they too can ask our lord to come to us if we are not able to receive communion. We heard earlier in the mass the Easter Sequence, one of a few sequences that are still used in the liturgy. This latin text most likely written by whipper or burgundy in the 11th century and presents an imaginary dialogue between the risen christ and Mary Magdalene. Christians to the paschal victim offer sacrifice and praise. The sheep are ransomed by the lamb and christ the undefiled ask sinners to his father, reconciled. Death with life contented, combat strangely ended. Lifes own champion slain, yet lives to reign. Tell us, mary, say what you saw upon the way. The tomb, the living one did enclose, i saw christs glory as he rose. The angels there attesting shroud with grave clothes resting. Christ, my hope has arisen, he goes before you into galille. That christ has trulily sense from the dead, we know, victorious king. Thy mercy show. The author of this hymn did we can also imagine what it would have been like for jesus first followers, having witnessed some of them eyewitnesses, others heard others witnesses about his horrible death and then to hear that he was alive and we now continue. We pray. [speaking native langage] look upon your church, oh, god, with unflailing love and favor so that renewed by the paschal mysteries she may come to the glory of the resurrection. Amen. We prepare ourselves now for the solemn blessing. [speaking native langage] before concluding the celebration, i would like to welcome to the new archpriest, gombetti cardinal. Thank you for your availability, brother, and i wish you all the best in your service in this church, which is so important for all christians. And i also want to thank Cardinal Angelo klomastri who after 16 years as archpriest and as he is going to be 78 years old, hes taking leave of this office. Thank you, cardinal, thank you for your ministry, for your spirituality, for your preaching, for your mercy. May the lord reward you for all of your work and i thank all of you who worked so that the liturgies of this holy week might be worthy, beautiful, all of them. To all of you who work in saint peters, the choir, the ministers, the servers, the lecter, the deacons, everyone, thank you very much. [speaking native langage] [speaking native langage] may almighty god bless you on this solemn feast of easter and may he protect you against all sin. Amen. [speaking native langage] through the resurrection of his son, god has granted us healing, may he fulfill you of his promises and grant you eternal life. You have mourned for christs sufferings, now you celebrate the joy of his resurrection, may you come with joy to the feast which lasts foreign. [speaking native langage] amen. And now the marianne antifan, the Regina Chalie concludes this celebration, our holy father now before the icon. This now brings to a conclusion the live broadcast of the celebration of the Easter Sunday liturgy, presided over by pope francis in Saint Peters Bay silt cay. In a basillica. In a few moments he will be delivering his blessing. We invite you to stay tuned for that and you will also be able to receive the plenary indulgence. On behalf of vatican media we wish all of you a blessed Easter Sunday and hope to see you back in a few minutes. [speaking native langage] praise be jesus christ. And you are watching the procession from the easter mass from saint peters basilica. Pope francis gave his Easter Address just now. It looked a bit different because of covid, kind of similar to last year because of covid restrictions. Italy i want to mention went into a Red Zone Lockdown just because of easter and they were trying to deter people from traveling and gathering for easter weekend. But i do want to bring in father Leo Pataligha and ray flynn, ray flynn is actually the former ambassador. I want to get their thoughts on the mass today. Do we have both of them with us . Yes, indeed. Hi. Yes. , im here. Thank you for be. Ray, i want to start with you. I want to get your thoughts on the mass as a whole this morning. Well, the mass is always a significant way to study, of course the season of hope. So many people tune into the mass. Ive had the privilege and honor of attending these mass Easter Service masses at saint Peters Basillica and traveled with the pope over the many years. But the message of hope is always very important. I cant think of an occasion that is even more important than this year with the problems that weve experienced as a society, all people, and i just people are clinging to every message coming from the pope, wanting some message of hope, restoring credibility of the way we live as people, as families, as society. Weve missed that this past year and its nice to hopefully get back on track. Father leo, kind of circling back on that one, did you hear of any message of hope or do you think that there was a message of hope given to people who tuned in this morning . Yes, adherence to the easter message is obviously one of hope of because it tells us how christ was powerful enough to conquer death itself. The word virus comes from the latin word which means strength. So if something goes viral its strong. What the holy father is trying to do is encourage virtue over the virus, faith over fear, and his invitation to go to galille as he mentioned in the homily is a reminder to us to do what we can to seek out christ and even though people arent able to perhaps gather in large congregation as in the past, hes letting us know that christ even though hes very physically resurrected, theres also a spiritual renewal and thats the invitation. Make sure faith overcomes fear. And then ray, i want to go back to you, Piggy Backing off of that. The future of the church, what do you think that looks like now that weve gone more than a year with covid restrictions. Now were in the second were seeing this the second time. What does the future of the Church Look Like and does it get back to normal any time soon. Ill tell you, the courage and the determination of the people is amazing to me. I attended a number of Search Services in boston over the lenten season and the priests and the religious people and the congregation, they did an amazing job and im sure this is the way its been across the united states, across the world. In terms of the loyalty, their faithfulness, their determination. They want to see the people back walking to work with pride, men and women going back to work. They they want to see healthy people, not people confined to a hospital or rest home. They want to hear the voices of children playing in the streets and see the happy look of people, neighbors who greet them going to the shopping market. I think people really are determined to see this. One thing about catholics, they are determined people. They believe and they have hope and today was a renewal of that. It certainly was for me during this lent, not happy the way things are going, but i have faith in god, faith in my church, faith in my neighbors and i think things will get back to normal and well all be able to live the life that god wanted us to live a life of happiness and hope. And ray, when do you think we will see that get back to normal . Is it a possibility that it could be around christmas time . Well, ill tell you, with the vaccine, the progress that has been made, thats he very, very encouraging and i think what its taught us and theres still a message there to go. We need to come together as a society. I dont like at all ive been in politics, by the way, over 50 years. I dont like this political division. I am a catholic. I am an american. Im a family man. I believe in my neighbors. I dont want to see all this division that separates people. Lets talk and lets work about things that bring people together, not continually driving those issues that separate us and divide us. The church can play a major role in that. But the parishoners and catholics, people of faith, all people of faith can play that Leadership Role as well. Father leo, i want to get to you in a second. I want to Say Something else regarding what ray just said. You know the importance of politics and religion. You worked with president s and prime ministers. Tell us how important it is with this message today, especially with the climate thats going on. Well, people are just anxiously waiting to hear some encouraging sign of a better day. As i say, they want to see their family happy, smiling faces, children going to school, people going back to work. You know, not just going to hospitals in secluded in their homes. And its very important, easter is a message that comes from god and we all relive the lenten season, especially friday, good friday. That tragic day reminded us reminds us all of the sacrifice of christ who gave up his life for us so that we could lead a happy and productive life. Everybody should take that in their heart and practice that. Its a day, its a season about hope. Its about love. And its about treating everybody with dignity and respect. Lets go for it, america. Were better than what we had to deal with the last year. And father, going back to you, just throwing numbers out there. In 2019, 70,000 people more or less crammed inside saint peters for this mass. In 2020, nearly 18 million tuned in just to the live mass. I mean, is there worry that people wont come back to a full congregation or do you think people are itching to get back to that, even though youre seeing millions and millions of people obviously tuning in live. Well, there is no room for fear, for worry in the Catholic Church. People are always going to have an opportunity to choose christ and it is placing on the burden on the responsibility on the priests and especially the leaders of the church to make sure the invitation is an attractive one and i think in this pandemic, we have all been given an opportunity to reignite and to reassess our efforts in reaching out to people. One thing about the Catholic Church is that we are not here to force anyone to believe anything. We are here to evanelize. If the pandemic has caused a decrease in physical numbers, then we have to double our efforts and use every mode of technology so we can get the message across. You see, under the weight of the Cross Catholics believe our strength and faith grows. So even though the challenges are upon us, as Ambassador Flynn said, we are better than this. We have to have the courage and i pray one of these days that our saint peters will be filled to capacity again. It was a little discouraging to see such a small number of people but as i was looking at the faces of those people, they had the face of thousands representing thousands in their souls. And then father, was there anything you heard in the message today that maybe some of our viewers didnt catch or maybe you could explain differently to them, just anything in particular that you heard that you would want to elaborate on . I think the holy father is trying to encourage people more than anything else. Now, hes always been a man to do that. But the message of going to galille, to make sure that you actually get up and you go make an effort, its easy to watch mass from your computer or your tv. But our catholic faith really encourages people to pick up their cross. You see, the faith cant just simply be a lot of happy, positive thoughts. The faith also encourages a realistic approach to life and suffering is a part of it. And therefore, the encouragement to pick up your cross, do Something Real and follow jesus, i heard that a little bit more poignantly in the holy fathers message this year. And then ray, as father leo just said, i mean, people he said people need to have the courage to go back to church. With the lockdowns and the restrictions and people are i feel like that your just getting used to doing everything virtually. Whats going to need to happen . Obviously theres going to have to be loosened restrictions for lockdowns and things like that but whats it going to take to make people feel comfortable, other than vaccinations, other than negative covid tests the . People love the truth. They gravitate towards that which is truthful, that which is good for them, what is good for society. The Catholic Church has a message of truth and hope. So i think the people will come back in a significant way. I talk to people all the time. I dont drive a car anymore. I walk every place, my wife and i. And i talk to as many people as i ever did and i hear in their voices and i see in their eyes and i know whats in their heart and they want to get back to the services, worshiping jesus christ and also getting their kids back to school, learning the religion, helping the poor, helping the needy. All those things that catholics did for generations and for centuries, they want to do that in a particularly meaningful, even more so than they ever did before. I think and i may be a little bit optimistic about this, but looking at the faces and looking into the eyes of catholics that i see all the time, i think the best days of catholics and the Catholic Church is yet to come. I think weve learned a lesson of despair over this pandemic and were not letting it beat us. Were winning and were going to that message of hope to the streets and back to the churches. Okay, gentlemen. Were going to take a short break. Of course, we are going to bring the blessing live, thats coming up at 6 00 a. M. So here in a little under 30 minutes. But were going to take a short break. Stick with us. Well be back for more coverage of the easter mass. Welcome back. We are continuing our coverage of easter mass from saint peters basilica. I want to join back our guests with us, the this is ray flynn and father leo. Thanks for sticking with us. I want to get to the next portion of whats going to be happening, coming up here in about 25 minutes and thats the papal blessing. Ray, lets start with you. What are you expecting from this . Well, i hope let me put it this way. I hope that theres a message here of inspiring people who have been down in the dumps for a while now with this pandemic. That the holy father inspires them with saying this is the day of the the church is the future. Its not just the past. And i hope he gives a message of the progress that has been made on health and with prayer and with good citizenship and people continuing to Work Together that we can beat this pandemic, we can get back to normal and educate our children, get our people back to work and let the people walk their neighborhoods and greet each other, attend church, frequent parks and playgrounds and shopping centers. Lets make America Great again and the church has a major role to play in that and i know, i know for a fact that the priests and the nuns will play a big role in that and we have to depend on them to be healthier, making america, Helping America to be the better country than it has been the past month, the past year. And father leo, maybe explain for the viewers, say theres someone watching for the first time, explain to them what this message will look like and this blessing. This is the blessing where the holy father in the front of saint peters basilica will address normally what can hold 300,000 people if theyre standing in the center of saint peters and normally he would address them in multiple languages, literally greeting people with happy easter in international fashion. Because you see, the catholic message, the word catholic literally means universal. That means there are catholics around the world. And where you find catholics, you see society flourishing with innovation, with peacemaking. Thats what hes trying to do is get to the core of who we are as christians. Unfortunately, as Ambassador Flynn mentioned, politics can sometimes divide. President the word religion at its core is basically a type of a binding together, so like if youre a religious fan of a particular sports team, youre going to be bound to them. What the holy father is trying to do is get us back to become religious people and unfortunately in modern world, politics seems to replace religion, they want to not just simply bring people to their identity politics, they almost divide people in the process. So what this holy father is trying the to do an a pontiff, which means a bridge builder, hes trying to make people more religious in its core definition, to be bound together in our Human Identity as gods children. And father, do you think people, especially catholics, have become more religious throughout the entire pandemic, in your opinion . I cant read anybodys hearts. But i can simply say this. Its got people to ask a lot more questions and people who are sincere and are making sure that politics doesnt become their religion, im seeing them asking the deeper questions. Now, what i want them the to do, though, is make sure theyre asking the right people. Because unfortunately, there is a lot of prosletysing that happens. Jews, muslims and christians, we all at our core believe the same thing, that god is a god of peace and, therefore, if you truly believe and we have to be peace fakeer peacemakers with one another. I think that should be happening in peoples hearts and minds. I cant answer what people are doing in their own hearts and spirituality but that is my prayer and hope and i know its the holy fathers as well. Ray, is there any message that you recall excuse me, anies blessing you recall from maybe past popes that really stand out to you . Oh, yeah. I mean, i traveled with Pope John Paul the second all across the world and i was with him on five or six Easter Sundays and i heard how he inspired the world, not just catholics, the world. Even last year, pope francis in his message about iraq, i thought that was one of the most inspiring messages also that i heard. So the pope has a major bully pulpit to reach the people of all faiths, of all backgrounds and i hope he uses that that today, not only to talk about inspiring people about the pandemic, health, that better days are coming. That there are medical solutions to whats going on. We need faith and we need of confidence in each other. And also i hope he says Something Like get involved, make sure that you go to church, that you participate in your neighborhood events, get involved in politics. Dont he depend on politicians to decide, to make decisions on how you live. This is a government for the people and the pope hopefully will encourage people to get more involved in their church, in the civic life, and in building the country that it once was, that we need, which is the most important thing ahead of us now. Ray, you said you traveled with Pope John Paul on Easter Sunday. In your eyes, in your view, youre seeing basically an empty saint peters basilica, at least outside, and a handful of people inside. How does that make you feel . I kept on thinking about the places during easter during holy week that Pope John Paul the second would go, croatia and not only john paul the second, but other people. I was with mother theresa when she was feeding the hungry in soup kitchens. I was with the patriarch of constantinople. People listen to them, they listen to the religious leaders. People want to carry out their message because they know its in their best interest and so what we saw today, i think it opened the eyes of people who are looking for a door to open so they can walk through and see a better world, a better society, and i think today is that opening of that door where catholics and people of all faith can walk through and provide that little glimmer of hope that we need. Look at, one person providing that kind of hope could permeate throughout society and what a place we would have tomorrow if everybody spoke well of each other and healing and bringing people forgiveness. This is the day. Easter sunday, the season, the day of hope. Youll hear it with pope francis in a couple minutes. And then specifically speaking on italy, father leo, they went on that Red Zone Lockdown just for this weekend to try an deter people from getting together and traveling. They obviously cant be at saint peters basilica but do you think that that lockdown is going to prevent people from celebrating this day . Interestingly enough, from what i understand in my contacts in italy, that churches are still open. Theyre just trying to prevent the numbers. And so with the numbers of churches that they have in italy, while they may not be able to congregate in large groups, they can still make their way to the church to avail themselves to the sacraments and with all of the catholic sites, even outdoor site, italians who are at their core very religious people, even though its secularized these days, they still have the catholic faith all around them. If they start paying attention to the deeper significance of everything around them, they will still be able to celebrate easter. Christ interestingly said where two or three are gathered in his name again, 300,000 you can t in that square. But if there are two or three faithful catholics gathered in prayer, recalling the scriptures and a loving one another, then the faith can really grow in them. Okay. Were going to go to break really quickly. For those who are just joining us, the mass is over but were awaiting for the blessing to start at 6 00 a. M. , we will carry that live for you. Be sure to stick around. So jeff, you need all those screens streaming over your xfinity xfi. For your meeting . Uhh yes. And your lucky jersey . Oh, yeah. Lauren, a cooler . Its hot. Its march. And jay, whats with all your screens . Just checking in with my team. Of colleagues. So youre all streaming on every device in the house, what . that was a foul. Its march. And youre definitely not watching basketball. No, no. Im definitely not watching basketball. Right. horn blaring welcome back. If you are just now joining us, pope francis gave his Easter Address at saint peters basilica that started at 4 00 a. M. Eastern time. We are now awaiting the message. I want to bring back our guests, ray flynn, former ambassador and father leo. Thanks for sticking with us this morning, both of you. For those who are just now joining us, just now tuning in, can you give a quick recap, ray, start with you, your thoughts on this message today. Traditionally, and today was an example of it, this attracts a wide audience, the holy fathers Easter Sunday mass, a lot of people cant go to church, particularly now, because of so many people confined to nursing homes, or hospitals and they cant travel as they used to. So theres a huge audience for this, for this mass. And i saw this not only in the number of thousands and thousands of people who are attracted to this when i was in rome at saint peters basilica, wherever the pope would go. So you have the audience like youll never have again and i think the he holy father and the Catholic Church and priests, i have to say, not just the holy father. Because its the priests and the nuns that really have been holding fort for keeping people with their faith in their hands. I see it all the time in churches in boston, south boston where i live. And so i think the priests and the nuns have done a great job in that regard. The pope attracted so many people across the world. I think its a message of hope. People are thinking about it as were talking here today and now is the time for people to act. Weve heard from the pope. Weve heard from the church. Now its the time for people to become faithful citizens of jesus christ. This is their time. Father leo, your reaction and your thoughts on the message this morning . Well, first of all, it was such an honor to be a part of this conversation. And Ambassador Flynn, you may not remember this but i actually cooked dinner for you one evening at the north american college. I was a student there. And so this brings me back to many years when i actually served at a mass with the holy father. So its a little nostalgic and its sad to see the church so empty when its a time of joy. We have to remember that for the first christians, easter didnt simply mean you could eat whatever you gave up for lent. So we have a very different conception of easter because for the first christians, especially the disciples it didnt mean celebration, it literally meant persecution. We have to remember that for the first 300 years of christianity, which is known as the age of martyrdom, we have to remember that being a christian meant being persecuted, being mistreated and ill even say, being canceled. There is a cancel culture today as there was in jesus day. And one of the things that they couldnt control was proclaiming the good news that Gee Cuss Christ conquered the worst thing ever which was death itself. Thats why this isnt just simply pious set of words, this is a historical fact. There were thousands of people who Saw Jesus Crucified and there were thousands of people who saw him rise from the dead and were willing to die for that very fact. And so for me, when i see Something Like this and i hear, you know, Great Catholics like Ambassador Flynn and even secular media wanting to talk about christianity, it gives me great hope, even in the midst of this pandemic which we know will never deter the message from being proclaimed. Okay. Were going to go to break one more time. Stick with us. I want your final thoughts on this service as well as the blessing thats coming up. So stick with us, both of you, please. Father, lets get your final thoughts own the message today. What is has become with the blessing . Well the blessing is really going to be an International Greeting for catholics around the world. He will proclaim jesus christ has risen. This a fact of our catholic faith. This is holy fathers presence is just reminding us that faith overcomes fear. And that we as catholics want to challenging things in the past. Lets admit bad newsp spreads faster than good news the holy father brings us to the core. Faith it about a person jesus christ who conquered death itself. He has risen, hallelujah. Ray, your final thoughts . I hope a lot of young people are watching this mass this morning listening to the father because they would have learned something very, very important. Dont give up on yourself. Dont give up on your faith, dont give up on your church. The best days are yet to come, we see what is happening with the young people of america, particularly kids that go to catholic schools. They are learning, theyre achieving. Theyre becoming great citizens, inspire, educate the whole country, particularly our young people. Nothing will be better for the country than seeing good citizens, people of faith. People of kindness, people of compassion, everything we learned as young people growing up. Our best days are yet to come. Thanks to the Catholic Church. For pope francis and messages theyre teaching our young people. We can look forward to a brighter day than the ones weve had to deal with the last year. Father leo, 30 seconds left for each of you. What are you expecting with the blessing coming up in a handful of minutes . The blessing is going to be indulgence for all those participating. Basically means an extra set of grices, more importantly encouragement to make sure faith isnt just something that is out there. Something that is truly incarnate in your family, in your own heart. Ray. What are you expecting for the blessing coming up . Everything begins now. This is a new day. This is a new message. A new era of hope for our faith and for our country. Dont wait. Dont wait for tomorrow or the next week. Start today, you see family today at your house because easter dinner are on the streets, are your friends. Show your catholic faith in a meaningful way beginning now. Both of you one final thing. Ray, is there anything youre going to be doing special for easter . About 15 seconds here . I went to Church Last Night with father casey, five to six priests to south boston and it was a beautiful service. I might go back again. They might let me in. Ive been going to church so much during lent, hey let somebody else have a chance. Father leo, what about you . I will be celebrating mass, not just at a church, something private for my family i make available on facebook live. I will celebrate easter meal with my family. Were all good cooks. At the same time well pray together, well eat together, celebrate our faith. No one can stop us because he is risen. Gentlemen, both of you thanks so much for being with us early this morning. Enjoy the rest of your day. We, as i said were awaiting the the urbi et erbi blessing. Now fox friends. Stick with us. Start the Easter Sunday edition of fox Friends Weekend awaiting pope francis. Im Rachel Campos duffy. Pete pope presiding over Easter Sunday mass. Translator deer bratz and sisters, happy easter, happy holy, serene easter. Today throughout the world the churchs proclamation resounds