Pope Carries Easter Candle in Vatican Basilica

Pope Benedict XVI holds a candle during the Easter vigil mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, April 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

(AP)

Pope Benedict XVI carried a tall, lit candle symbolizing hope into a darkened St. Peter's Basilica packed with faithful Saturday night in the traditional start of the Vatican's vigil Mass on the eve of Easter.

A chant of "Lumen Christi" (Latin for "Light of Christ") echoed in the cavernous basilica.

Then the vast space began twinkling with light as cardinals and other prelates lit their candles from the flame on the pope's Easter candle and, one by one, members of the congregation lit their neighbor's candle in a quick succession of lights.

A light switch was thrown, and the Mass began, led by Benedict, dressed in gold-and-white colored vestments.

Easter Sunday is Christianity's most important feast day, when faithful mark their belief in the resurrection of Christ after Jesus' death by crucifixion. For Christians worldwide, Easter represents God's promise of eternal life after death, of love's triumph over death.

Benedict said Jesus, like a shepherd, gave guidance to his flock. "What great compassion he must feel in our time, too, on account of all the endless talk that people hide behind, while in reality they are totally confused," the pope said.

Benedict prayed that Christians would "shine as lights in the world" amid "the confusions of this age" and amid the search for values to put "order" in our lives.

"The gravitational pull of love is stronger than that of hatred; the force of gravity of life is stronger than that of death," Benedict said in his homily reflecting on the mystery of Christian belief in the resurrection.

A motif of life overcoming difficult trials figured in Benedict's Good Friday homily, as he sought to encourage survivors of Italy's devastating quake to cling to hope and take solace in Easter's joy. The temblor in the central Apennine mountain region of Abruzzo claimed at least 293 lives and left 40,000 people homeless.

The endurance of the Catholic church itself through the ages was praised by Benedict in his vigil Mass homily, saying "it always seems as if she ought to be sinking, and yet she is already always saved."