Romania: mgr. Perca (Bucharest), “the announcement of the Resurrection of the Lord enlightens even the dark areas of the world”

“In our hearts, there are joy and sadness; on our faces, smiles and tears. This is our earthly reality, but Christ is resurrected, He is alive and walks with us”, mgr. Aurel Perca, Archbishop of Bucharest, writes in his pastoral letter for Easter. “Unfortunately – the prelate goes on –, the song of joy of the Easter Hallelujah that the Church is proclaiming today still clashes with the cries and screams coming from so many painful situations, increasingly frequent and close to us”. So, the Bishop mentions “the wars, the violence, the corruption, the injustice, the inequalities, the exclusion, the poverty”, as well as the words “do not be afraid!”, which the Angel addressed to the women on Easter morning. “The announcement of the Resurrection of the Lord enlightens even the dark areas of the world in which we live”, mgr. Perca writes on, then he explains that, in the midst of all the disappointments and tribulations, the Resurrection of Christ is a source of hope. Then, the Archbishop of Bucharest reminds “all the brothers and sisters who experience the Passion of Our Lord in their lives” that Jesus Christ “died and was resurrected precisely to bring us peace and enlighten us with the truth”. Finally, the Archbishop wishes that Easter may inspire change in everyone and may bring more peace, hope, joy, goodness, co-responsibility and solidarity. In Romania, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches celebrate Easter in May 31st; the Greek Catholic and the Orthodox Churches will celebrate it on May 5th, based on the Julian calendar.
Patrizia Caiffa