Illustration:Women at the empty tomb, by Fra Angelico, 1437–1446
Pope Leo’s Homily for Easter Sunday 2026
St Peter’s Square – 5 April 2026
‘We need this song of hope today’
Easter Sunday Gospel (John 20:1-9)
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb.
She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved.
‘She said: They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.
They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.
Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.
Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, all of creation shines with a new light, a song of praise rises from the earth, and our hearts rejoice
Christ is risen from the dead, and with him, we too rise to new life!
This Easter proclamation embraces the mystery of our lives and the destiny of history.
It reaches us even in the depths of death, where we feel threatened and sometimes overwhelmed.
It opens us up to a hope that never fails, to a light that never fades, to a fullness of joy that nothing can take away: death has been conquered forever; death no longer has power over us!
This is a difficult message to accept.
It is a promise that we struggle to embrace, because the power of death constantly threatens us,
both from within and without.
From within, this power threatens us when the weight of our sins prevents us from “spreading our wings” and taking flight, or when the disappointments or loneliness we experience drain our hope.
It likewise looms over us when our worries or our resentments suffocate the joy of living, when we are sad or tired, or when we feel betrayed or rejected.
When we must come to terms with our weaknesses, and the daily grind of life’s sufferings,
we can feel as if we have ended up in a tunnel with no end in sight.
From without, death is always lurking.
We see it in injustices, partisan selfishness, the oppression of the poor, and the lack of attention given to the most vulnerable.
We see it in violence and the world’s wounds.
We hear the cry of pain rising from every corner because of abuses that crush the weakest among us.
We see it in the idolatry of profit that plunders the earth’s resources and in the violence of war that kills and destroys.
In this reality, the Passover of the Lord invites us to lift our gaze and open our hearts.
It nourishes the seed of the promised victory within our spirit throughout history.
Like Mary Magdalene and the Apostles, it sets us in motion so that we may discover Jesus’ empty tomb and know that new life can arise from every death.
The Lord is alive and remains with us.
Through the cracks of resurrection that open in the darkness, he entrusts us with the hope that sustains us—the power of death is not our final destiny.
Once and for all, we are all directed on the path to fulfillment because in Christ, we have also risen.
With heartfelt words, Pope Francis reminded us of this in his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. Evangelii Gaudium (n 276 – Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated this world. Where all seems to be dead/ signs of the resurrection suddenly spring up.
It is an irresistible force. Often it seems that God does not exist. All around us we see persistent injustice, evil, indifference and cruelty. But it is also true that in the midst of darkness something new always springs to life and sooner or later produces fruit).
Brothers and sisters,
Easter gives us this hope because we remember that in the risen Christ a new creation is possible every day. Today’s Gospel clearly describes the resurrection as taking place on “the first day of the week.” (John 20:1).
The day of Christ’s resurrection thus takes us back to that first day of creation when God created the world, and at the same time proclaims that a new life, stronger than death, is now dawning for humanity.
Easter represents the new creation brought about by the risen Lord. It is a new beginning and life made eternal by God’s victory over the ancient enemy.
We need this song of hope today.
As those who have risen with Christ, we must bring him into the streets of the world.
Like Mary Magdalene, we should run and proclaim Jesus to everyone.
Let us live out the joy of the Resurrection so that wherever death lingers, life may shine.
May Christ, our Passover, bless us and give his peace to the whole world!
