The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap., says that even where humanity may seem to have lost its reason and where evil may prevail, the faithful are called this Easter to testify that love conquers and remember that, through the Cross, Christ's Resurrection guarantees that evil does not have the final word.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov "Today we celebrate Christ’s victory over death and evil. His battle is not against human armies: the true enemy is evil itself. At Easter, love and mercy are revealed in all their power. The Resurrection assures us that evil and death do not have the final word." The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap., expressed this in an Easter message. The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church covering the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Republic of Yemen. Remembering those unable to celebrate liturgies in person Over the weekend, following recent changes, Bishop Martinelli acknowledged how current circumstances had affected the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday parish celebrations at St. Mary’s in Dubai and St. Francis of Assisi in Dubai's industrial and port district of Jebel Ali, resulting in liturgies being moved online and the temporary closure of churches. In this regard, he said, "We sincerely hope to return to celebrating together with all of you in our churches soon," and invited the affected faithful "to offer the difficulties of these days in union with Christ so that this sacrifice may bear fruit for the good of the Church and for peace in the world." Incessantly praying for peace and end to the war "We pray incessantly for an end to the war and for peace and reconciliation," he said. In his Easter message, the Apostolic Vicar stressed, "In a time of uncertainty and fear, we are touched by the great Easter proclamation: the Lord is risen, truly risen, and has conquered evil and death forever. Let us live this week as if it were a single, great day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, a week that will culminate with the Sunday of Divine Mercy." Bishop Martinelli recognized that we arrive at this day after a Lent marked by the outbreak of a new war affecting the region. He recalled that Pope Leo had repeatedly called for peace, making his closeness felt, and thanked local authorities for ensuring safety. Noting that prayer has sustained them during this period, Bishop Martinelli reflected that "the Lord has accompanied us through the desert" and that "Our Lady has watched over us with her maternal care." The Resurrection guarantees that evil will not have final word This Easter, he reminded the faithful, we celebrate Christ’s victory over death and evil, for His battle "is not against human armies, but the true enemy is evil itself." During his Good Friday homily, he noted that, in light of Christ's Passion, we can reflect on what has been happening in the Middle East in recent weeks and years. Faced with the mystery of evil and violence, we ask ourselves what all this means. In these days of war, we experience the absurdity of violence, which does not solve problems but creates and aggravates them, bringing death and destruction and causing fear and uncertainty. Where it seems humanity has lost its sense of reason "We are saddened to see natural disasters, but when we see the suffering inflicted by human beings on one another through deadly weapons, it seems humanity has lost its sense of reason." "When we ask ourselves, somewhat fearfully, how far the mystery of iniquity can reach," the Apostolic Vicar said the answer comes from the mystery of the Cross, in the "rejection of Jesus, the mistreatment, the slapping, the scourging of the Son of God, the innocent." "Killing Him as if He were the worst criminal," Bishop Martinelli observed, "is certainly the most terrible thing humanity has done in its history." While in human history sinners kill other sinners, on Good Friday, he lamented, "sinners condemn the innocent; guilty humans reject and kill the Son of God." Our task is to testify that love conquers Yet, from the Cross, the Bishop recalled, Jesus embraces and draws to Himself all those crucified throughout history, all the suffering of the world and all the evil ever committed, thereby placing the Cross at the center of the world and of history. "Dear brothers and sisters," he appealed, "our task is to testify that love conquers." In his Easter remarks, Bishop Martinelli acknowledged the fear experienced by the faithful when events unfold beyond their control, especially fears of war and possible escalation. Noting it is natural for them to think of their jobs and their families, especially their children and their future, he compared their fear of loss to that of Mary Magdalene and the disciples, who were fearful of losing Jesus. Death couldn't hold Him back Yet, the Apostolic Vicar reiterated, "Death could not hold Jesus back," for He is the Lord, and is risen. With this conviction, Bishop Martinelli reassured, "the certainty of the Lord's presence among us and of His victory changes everything." "It changes the way we look at life and death; it changes the way we look at pain," he added. "We are invited to reread creation, the world, and history in the light of Christ, crucified and risen."