The light of the blessed candle, the ringing of the bells, the Gloria and the Hallelujah. It is Easter in Jerusalem! As per tradition at the Holy Sepulcher, the Easter Vigil is celebrated on Saturday morning in front of the empty tomb. A special liturgy that begins with the blessing of the new fire before the Anointing Stone. The Paschal candle is lit with a flame from the Tomb and this light spreads throughout the Basilica. The readings tell the story of salvation and alternate with the psalms and the singing of the Gloria. Finally, the blessing of water and the renewal of baptismal promises. Presiding over the celebration was H.B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, together with bishops and priests from various parts of the world. Also present were numerous pilgrims and local Christians. In his homily, H.B. Pizzaballa, highlighted God's gratuitous intervention in human history. H B PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "The Amen of the Father, he was killed and put in a tomb. Humanly, his life ended in the worst of failures." On the morning of the first day after the Sabbath, the women go to the tomb to mourn, but they find it empty. We see a reversal of course, a sudden change of direction - the Patriarch continued - the Gospel says that these same women quickly leave the tomb, that they do not remain there weeping, in sadness, but with fear and great joy (Mt 28:8) they return to the disciples bringing a proclamation of life. H B PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins "It is in the Church today that the words of the angel still resound: 'Do not be afraid!.... I know that you seek Jesus, the crucified one. He is not here. He is risen.... Behold, I have told you" (Mt 28:5, 7). It is the Church's task to stir up that new dynamism of life, which from the angel reaches the women, from the women reaches the disciples, and from them the whole world. May our Church, then, the Church in Jerusalem, which first received this wonderful proclamation, not seek the Living One among the dead (cf. Lk 24:5), among those who have lost hope and remain locked in their tombs. Instead, from this Place, from the empty tomb of Christ, this good news still comes to the whole world today: "He is not here. He has risen, as he said" (Matt. 28:6)." Today as it was then, from Jerusalem to the world: Hallelujah, the Lord is Risen! He is truly Risen!