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| Pope celebrates first Easter Mass | Pope celebrates first Easter Mass |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated the first Mass of Easter Sunday, the main Christian festival, by candle light in St Peter's Basilica. | Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated the first Mass of Easter Sunday, the main Christian festival, by candle light in St Peter's Basilica. |
| The ceremony at the Vatican began in darkness as the Pope lit a single candle marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | The ceremony at the Vatican began in darkness as the Pope lit a single candle marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| Thousands of pilgrims then lit individual candles and the huge basilica was flooded with light. | Thousands of pilgrims then lit individual candles and the huge basilica was flooded with light. |
| In his homily, Benedict explained the symbolism of light as an image of God. | In his homily, Benedict explained the symbolism of light as an image of God. |
| The Church tries to help Catholics understand the resurrection of Christ in the language of symbols, the Pope said. | The Church tries to help Catholics understand the resurrection of Christ in the language of symbols, the Pope said. |
| In pictures: Easter worldwide | |
| Later, he baptised five adults including three Italians, an American and a Chinese. | Later, he baptised five adults including three Italians, an American and a Chinese. |
| After celebrating another morning Mass, this time in the open air in front of St Peter's, he will deliver his traditional Easter message to the city of Rome and to the world at midday. | After celebrating another morning Mass, this time in the open air in front of St Peter's, he will deliver his traditional Easter message to the city of Rome and to the world at midday. |
| He is expected to refer to the plight of the tens of thousands of Italians made homeless by last week's earthquake in central Italy. | He is expected to refer to the plight of the tens of thousands of Italians made homeless by last week's earthquake in central Italy. |
| He plans to visit the earthquake zone after Easter. | He plans to visit the earthquake zone after Easter. |
| In May, Benedict, who will be 82 next month, plans to travel to Jordan and Israel on a pilgrimage to the land where Jesus Christ lived and died. | In May, Benedict, who will be 82 next month, plans to travel to Jordan and Israel on a pilgrimage to the land where Jesus Christ lived and died. |
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| Pope celebrates first Easter Mass |