Darkness and fear must not rule our hearts - Pope

Abu Mubarik 09:55 - 27 March 2016

Pope Francis gives holy communion during the Easter vigil at St Peter’s basilica in the Vatican.Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Francis entered the darkened basilica with one candle guiding him and as he reached the alter, the basilica's floodlights came on in a symbolic show of the resurrection of Christ: light after darkness.

Pope Francis delivered a message of hope during an Easter vigil service held on Saturday, saying darkness and fear must not be allowed to rule and "imprison" the world with pessimism.

"We see and will continue to see problems both inside and out. They will always be there,'' Francis said in his homily.

"Let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control our hearts,'' he continued, "today is the celebration of our hope." "It is so necessary today.''

The Pope delivered his massage having in mind Tuesday's terrorist attacks in Brussels that claimed the lives of 31 and injured many.