by Cindy Wooden

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Catholics must allow the grace of their baptism and of the Eucharist to transform their lives and make them instruments of God’s grace in the world, Pope Francis said.

Catholics are called to allow Christ’s Easter victory over sin and death “to assert itself in their lives and to spread its beneficial action,” the pope said April 1, reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer at noon with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

On Easter Monday, a public holiday in Italy, tens of thousands of people gathered for the five-minute appointment with the pope in St. Peter’s Square, still decorated with daffodils, tulips and other spring plants. The pope recites the “Regina Coeli” (Queen of Heaven) prayer instead of the Angelus from Easter until Pentecost.

Power of the Resurrection

In his brief midday address, the pope prayed that “the power of Christ’s resurrection would reach each person – especially those who suffer – and all those situations most in need of trust and hope.”

While Christ’s victory over evil is complete, Pope Francis said, “It’s up to us, men and women in every age, to welcome this victory into our lives and into the concrete reality of history and society.”

The pope prayed that the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection truly would set down roots in people’s lives so that “hatred would give way to love, lies to truth, vengeance to forgiveness and sadness to joy.”

“The baptism that makes us children of God and the Eucharist that unites us to Christ must become life, translating themselves into attitudes, behaviors, gestures and choices,” he said.