Pope Francis Marks First Easter Mass...Reaches Out To 'Muslim Brothers'

[Shola Sholaz]

POPE Francis is expected to mark the first Easter
Sunday mass of his papacy today few hours after he
celebrated his maiden Easter vigil just as he prayed
for peace in the Middle East and stronger Christian-
Muslim dialogue at a torch-lit ceremony for Good
Friday.
.
The newly-elected Argentine pope yesterday
presided over a mass at St. Peter's Basilica from 8.30
p.m. local time, baptising four adult converts. an
Albanian, an Italian, a Russian and a US national.
.
Pope Francis (R) kissing the feet of a young offender
after washing them during a mass at the church of
the Casal del Marmo youth prison on the outskirts of
Rome as part of Holy Thursday.
.
The ceremony effectively wrapped up a series of
intensive preparations leading up to Easter Sunday
—the holiest day in the Christian calendar—by the
first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years.
.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather
today for the Easter Sunday mass when the Pope will
issue a special blessing from the same balcony of St.
Peter's Basilica, where he appeared on the night of
his election.
.
Giovanni Maria Vian, editor of the Vatican's official
daily Osservatore Romano, said seeing the new Pope
during Easter helped explain the timing of his
predecessor Benedict XVI's resignation.
.
Meanwhile the Argentine Pope reached out in
friendship to "so many Muslim brothers and sisters"
during a Good Friday procession dedicated to the
suffering of Christians from terrorism, war and
religious fanaticism in the Middle East.

[Folami David]

Well i can say this first Easter is a success with this message the pope shared.  The message is very meaningful