Pope's Final Message: A Call for Peace, Freedom, and Compassion

"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression."

COLOMBO (News 1st); In his final message, delivered on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis left the world with a powerful call for peace, freedom, and respect for all.

His words resonated deeply with millions, capturing the essence of his lifelong commitment to compassion and humanity.

"Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! Today at last, the singing of the 'alleluia' is heard once more in the Church, passing from mouth to mouth, from heart to heart, and this makes the people of God throughout the world shed tears of joy," an aide read on behalf Pope Francis.

His message spoke of love triumphing over hatred, light over darkness, and truth over falsehood.

"Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day."

Addressing those in pain and sorrow, Pope Francis offered words of comfort and hope.

"Your silent cry has been heard and your tears have been counted; not one of them has been lost! In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it."

He emphasized the importance of hope, stating, "The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint!"

He expressed his closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli and Palestinian people. He also highlighted the plight of the people of Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and other regions affected by conflict and violence.

"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others," he declared, urging the world to break down barriers and care for one another.

Pope Francis also called for assistance to the people of Myanmar, who are dealing with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, and urged political leaders to use resources to help the needy and promote development.