Vatican City (AsiaNews) Although illness kept him away from St Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II made his presence felt during Easter Vigil by praying "that the world may see and recognise that, thanks to his passion, and resurrection, that which was destroyed is rebuilt, that which was old is renewed and everything returns to its original integrity, more beautiful than before,".
For the first time in his pontificate the Pope did not celebrate the "vigil of all vigils" because he is still recuperating from a tracheotomy. Easter Vigil that was instead celebrated by Card Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
As he did during the Easter Triduum, the Pope sent a message in which, among other things, he said he followed the ceremony "thanks to the television". But unlike Good Friday's Way of the Cross, no direct video link with the Pope was scheduled and none was made.
The warm applause that welcomed the Pope's message did however increase the sense of emptiness and sadness that has hung over Holy Week, this despite the fact that Easter Vigil celebration signals the happy event that is the resurrection whose liturgy is perhaps the most suggestive of the year.
In his homily Cardinal Ratzinger spoke about the need to wake up from today's tired Christianity and ignite our faith. This follows his Meditations for the Way of the Cross, in which he warned Christians against moving away from their faith.
During the Vigil, the dean of the College of Cardinals emphasised the importance of the Word of God and the Sacraments for a true life that is not enslaved to "money and career".