Pope Leads Easter Vigil Service Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection

VATICAN CITY —  With a burst of light and song in the vast St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope John Paul II commemorated the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a three-hour ceremony ushering in Easter Sunday.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims filled the aisles and pews as the pontiff began the Easter vigil by leading a solemn procession of cardinals and bishops through the darkened basilica amid the sound of Gregorian chants.

The Pope blessed and lighted a large, white candle symbolizing “the new fire” of divine grace. The faithful responded by lighting small candles. Floodlights suddenly illuminated the basilica as the choir burst into song, and the 10-ton bell of St. Peter’s began to peal.

As part of the ritual, 39 people -- from South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Cameroon, Tanzania, Zaire, the Ivory Coast, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy, the United States and West Germany--were baptized by the Pope.

Through baptism, said John Paul in his homily about the resurrection, “we also can walk in a new life. In fact, God is the God of the living, not of the dead. He is a lover of life.”

The ceremony ended with a midnight Mass that stretched into the early hours of Easter Sunday.

Later today, the spiritual leader of about 800 million Roman Catholics delivers his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the city of Rome and the world) greetings to tens of thousands of pilgrims in a service telecast live to millions around the world.

Earlier Saturday, thousands of pilgrims awaited John Paul’s Easter vigil, many with their children dressed in their holiday best, and milled about St. Peter’s Square in balmy weather.

Tour operators reported Rome hotels and pensions were booked to capacity. They estimated that more than 500,000 pilgrims and tourists are visiting Rome for Easter Sunday.