Vatican, Mar. 26, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Easter Octave draws attention to "the central truth of Christian faith in all its doctrinal richness," Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) told his public audience on March 26. The Resurrection of Jesus brings to believers "the certainty of our final resurrection," the Holy Father said. He pointedly remarked that the historical truth of the Resurrection "is amply documented, even if today, as in the past, there is no lack of people who put it in doubt or even deny it." In fact, the Pontiff continued, "the weakening of faith in the Resurrection of Jesus leads to the weakening of the testimony of believers."
The liturgy of the Easter season underlines the Church's full confidence in the reality of the Resurrection, the Pope said, encouraging Catholics to participate actively in the liturgical celebrations. Just as the disciplines recognized Christ on the road to Emmaus, the Pope said that the faithful "can meet and know Jesus Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist."
Pope Benedict arrived in Rome by helicopter from his summer residence, where he is relaxing this week after the rigors of Holy Week. As he spoke to the 30,000 people who gathered in St. Peter's Square, taking advantage of seasonable warmth in Rome, the Pontiff appeared happy and energetic, but spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice, perhaps showing the toll taken by his many public appearances during the past week. After his Wednesday audience he returned to Castel Gandolfo, to remain there until Sunday, March 30.
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