Christians around the world celebrate Easter Sunday

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sunday, April 9 is Easter Sunday, the most sacred holiday on the Christian calendar.

Last week Gov. Lemanu P. S. Mauga issued his Easter message telling the territory, "This Easter, we give thanks to the Lord for the gift of His Beloved Son -who is the central, unwavering  pillar of our faith. Nothing in all of human history compares to the unparalleled life of the Son of God, our Redeemer. The supreme  act of selflessness  performed  by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ amid the anguish and despair of the Crucifixion was the manifestation of hope and the triumph of light over darkness.

"With Christ's resurrection came the promise that life is eternal, and that all are made alive in Christ. His resurrection is a reminder to live not only for today, but to also hope for the future, regardless of how difficult our current circumstances  may seem.

"During the Easter season, we are filled with a renewed sense of optimism. I encourage our people to hold fast to Christ's promises and maintain this hopefulness throughout the year. May we all discover  tremendous  fulfillment  in Christ's  grace and  unfailing  love, and  may  we experience greater joy in the blessings of daily life.

"On behalf of Lieutenant Governor Talauega and our families, we wish all the people of American Samoa both here and abroad a very blessed and joyous Easter! May the promise of Easter fill our lives,  our  families, our  community, and our  beloved  Territory  with  newfound  joy, hope, and gratitude.

"Let us all rejoice, for Christ has risen!"

In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a “climate of trust.”

Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peter’s Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion.

The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging “trust among individuals, peoples and nations,” Francis said Easter’s joy “illumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.”

The pope’s Easter message is known by its Latin name, ”Urbi et Orbi,” which means “to the city and the world.”

 Samoa News wishes all our readers a joyous Easter season.