A very happy Easter season!
Truly happy: it is always a happy time.
Including in these difficult and painful moments
that we are going through.
During Holy Week
we have frequently reflected on the truth that,
in order to give us life -- this wonderful life of daughters and sons of God --
our Lord wanted to die for us.
And in order to welcome that life and develop it,
and to be happy as daughters and sons of God,
we too undergo pain and suffering.
An expression of Saint Josemaría comes to mind
(maybe it has also occurred to you):
"Our joy has its roots in the shape of a cross."
It seems absurd, but our faith assures us that this is so.
Christ is alive! This is our great security, the great certainty that faith gives us.
And Christ wants to live -- and He does live -- in us, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
And this gives us the certainty that we are not alone.
Not even in these difficult times of isolation are we alone,
Above all because we are with God,
but also because, by being with Him, we are all together.
Because we can say that, in some way, we are all united in our Lord.
We are closely united: may nobody feel alone.
I wanted to communicate my closeness and affection to all of you
especially in these circumstances, and above all to those who are suffering more intensely.
United in our Lord and realizing, as Saint Paul says, that
"nothing can separate us from the love of Christ."
It is a question of faith: everything is a question of faith.
We need a great faith.
And of course, faith...
God has to grant it to us.
We want to have a strong, firm, secure faith.
Often we experience -- sometimes more directly perhaps -- the darkness that faith entails: a light--filled darkness.
And in moments of difficulty like now,
may we realize that faith above all is light
and that we have to ask our Lord for it.
Like the Apostles. You remember
how the Apostles themselves asked our Lord: "Lord, increase our faith!"
It is a wonderful prayer, especially in difficult times like today
and in many other moments of life.
Ask our Lord to increase our faith.
Because faith is what allows us,
-- how can I put it --
to give suffering its full meaning.
If not, it ends up being an absurd thing.
Faith,
being a gift from God,
provides light for every corner in our life.
But there is a very important point, which is God's love for us.
May we believe, may we be convinced (asking our Lord for it because faith is a gift from Him),
that He loves us madly, always and in every circumstance.
Including now, including those of you who are suffering more intensely.
God's love for us is what gives us great security.
Faith has to be operative. It can't just be a matter of ideas.
It has to be manifested in works.
You remember what Saint Paul himself said
-- well he wrote --
faith works through charity.
Faith becomes operative with works,
with deeds.
And charity is love.
Love for God and love for others, the two are inseparable.
These are the works of faith.
Service to others, understanding others.
And now, right now, being present in little things as well.
In a phone call,
in a message, in a gesture,
that gives comfort or company.
Let our faith be operative.
Well, I'll finish.
Maybe I could add that our faith, the gift from God that we ask for,
may it be firmer and more secure each day,
may it give us more peace of mind and more joy,
also in order to communicate it to others.
May this faith also help us bear witness
to God's love to the whole world.
Through this faith that works through charity,
may we always be especially attentive to those in special need.
Well, that's it.
Once again, a very happy Easter!
And may everyone, closely united to the Pope and to the whole Church,
may God bless us all.