with Mary, let us pray for the Ukrainian people and the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

At the Angelus, the Pontiff recalled the solemnity of the Annunciation in which “we renew our consecration” to the heart of the Virgin. His thoughts turned to the victims of the Mississippi tornado and to the request for peace and reconciliation for Peru. In the Gospel episode of Lazarus, the invitation to “roll away the stone” and the gift of life “even when there seems to be no hope.”

Vatican City () – “We continue to pray for the martyred people of Ukraine and we are close to the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The special collection of offerings that is taking place today in all Italian parishes is intended for them.” . Pope Francis underlined these words at the Angelus, addressing the faithful who packed St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff recalled the “solemnity of the Annunciation” celebrated yesterday, in which “we renew our consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”, with the certainty that only “the conversion of hearts” can open “the path that leads to peace “. Prior to that, he commented on the words proposed in today’s liturgy, the Gospel of John, in the episode of the resurrection of Lazarus, “a dear friend of Jesus.” Francisco stressed that we are at the “culmination” of his “signs”. The “message” of the fifth Sunday of Lent is “clear”: Jesus gives life “even when it seems that there is no more hope.”

At the end of the Marian prayer, Pope Francis dedicated a thought to the people of Mississippi, in the United States, “hit by a devastating tornado.” Later, during the greetings to the numerous communities of pilgrims present – from Italy and from all over the world – the pontiff addressed the Peruvians and asked to pray “for peace and reconciliation” in a country that “is suffering so much”.

At the Angelus, the Pope recalled that sometimes one can “feel hopeless” or “meet people who have given up hope” because of loss, illness, disappointment, injury, serious mistake or betrayal. “These are moments in which life seems like a closed tomb: everything is dark, only pain and despair can be seen around us.” Today, Jesus “tells us that it is not so”, that “in these moments” He is “closer than ever, to give us life again” and “weeps with us, as he wept for Lazarus”. The Gospel “underlines it twice”, recalls the Pope. Furthermore, Jesus “invites us not to stop believing and hoping” and not to allow ourselves to be “crushed by negative feelings.” In one line, he exhorts us to “roll away the stone.”

Continuing with his reflection, Francis recalled Christ’s invitation to remove the “stone” of pain, mistakes and failures, without “hiding” them. “Do not give in to pessimism that depresses, to fear that isolates, to discouragement due to the memory of bad experiences, to fear that paralyzes. I want you free and alive, I do not abandon you and I am with you! Do not let yourself be imprisoned by pain Don’t let hope die: live again!”

This passage, the Pope concludes, is “a hymn to life, and we read it as Easter approaches” and the time comes to “roll away the stone and go out to meet Jesus.” An invitation that is also addressed “to the confessors”. The Pope reminds them that “they are sinners” and are “in the confessional to forgive, not to torture.” Hence the final invitation to pray to Our Lady to bear witness to “the hope and joy of Jesus”, so that “Mary, Mother of hope, may renew in us the joy of not feeling alone and the call to bring light to the darkness that surrounds us.”