By AC Wimmer
CNA Newsroom, Apr 20, 2025 / 06:10 am
Under clear spring skies and surrounded by thousands of faithful gathered in a St. Peter’s Square adorned with vibrant yellow daffodils, Pope Francis’s Easter Sunday homily called Christians to actively seek the risen Jesus in their daily lives, urging believers to “run” just as the disciples did after discovering the empty tomb.
“We must look for him without ceasing,” emphasized the pope’s text, which was delivered by Cardinal Angelo Comastri on April 20. “Because if he has risen from the dead, then he is present everywhere, he dwells among us, he hides himself and reveals himself even today in the sisters and brothers we meet along the way.”
Earlier in the morning, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Pope Francis held a brief private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Casa Santa Marta. The meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, provided an opportunity for the two to exchange Easter greetings.
Vice President Vance previously met Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday to discuss international relations, religious freedom, and humanitarian concerns.
The homily described how the Gospel account of Easter features the disciples “running” to discover Christ’s resurrection. This physical movement, the text explained, symbolizes the spiritual dynamism required of Christians.
“The protagonists of the Easter narratives all ran!” the homily stated.
As Cardinal Angelo Comastri delivered the Easter Sunday homily at the Vatican on April 20, 2025, he emphasized the importance of actively seeking Jesus in our lives. He spoke of the running of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John in search of the Lord, highlighting the yearning and desire in their hearts.
Pope Francis echoed this sentiment, cautioning against treating Christ as a mere story or a static figure. He urged believers to recognize the living presence of Jesus in the world around them, challenging them to see beyond the ordinary.
This Easter faith, the homily explained, is dynamic and transformative, calling us to action and pushing us to break free from the confines of routine and indifference. It invites us to embrace a new way of living and seeing the world.
The homily concluded with a prayer for renewal, asking God to cleanse us from habits, tiredness, and indifference, and to make us new in His eternal light.
