Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 31, 1991 TAG: 9103310070
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VATICAN CITY LENGTH: Medium
The lighting of the white candle, which stood more than 4 feet tall, opened a service commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday.
Thousands of pilgrims lit small white candles of their own as the pontiff led a procession to the altar of St. Peter's Basilica.
After a deacon chanted three times "Lumen Christi" - Light of Christ - and the pope placed his candle at the altar, the lights of the basilica were switched on. The candles at the Easter vigil symbolized the risen Christ.
"Everything is renewed through love, which, on this Easter night, is revealed as stronger than death and sin," said the pope, sitting in white robes on an altar decked with yellow flowers.
Following tradition, the vigil Mass included several baptisms. This year, 26 people, including three Americans and an 8-year-old Italian girl, were chosen to be baptized by the pope.
After the ceremony, the pope had little time to rest before Easter morning, when he is to celebrate an open-air Mass in St. Peter's Square.
At noon, he will give his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world) message from the balcony overlooking the square.
In the Middle East, about 300 U.S. servicemen celebrated Passover with traditional foods and prayers aboard a luxury cruise ship docked in Manama, Bahrain.
The Jewish servicemen arrived Friday for the 72-hour stay on the Cunard Princess, which has been used since Christmas by American troops on leave.
The cruise line had issued an invitation to all Jewish troops in the U.S. force to spend Passover on the ship.
"It is the only good thing that happened to us in the entire deployment," said Maj. Robert Salk, 33, of Wakefield, R.I. "Normally, we would be having a family celebration. This communal event did us a lot of good."
Three rabbis were at the ceremony on the ship.
"They even had yarmulkes made out of camouflage cloth," Salk said.
Passover commemorates the deliverance of the ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
by CNB