“Let There Be Light”

Benedict XVI carries the Paschal candle as he enters St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass on April 7.

The night before Easter Sunday, the Vigil of Easter, the Holy Father presided over a majestic 3-hour liturgy inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

The liturgy began with the entire Church in total darkness and silence.

The Pope then lit one candle, in the back of the church, and the flame from that candle was transmitted to all the other candles in the church, filling the basilica with light.

During his homily, the Pope focused on that light which comes into the world at Easter, following the darkness and silence of Holy Saturday.

In words of great power, the Pope said: “Now it is the first day once again — creation is beginning anew. ‘Let there be light,’ says God, ‘and there was light’: Jesus rises from the grave. Life is stronger than death. Good is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Truth is stronger than lies.”