<p>Pope Francis on today called on Catholics to bring the message of God "to the very ends of the earth" during an Easter vigil mass in St Peter's Basilica.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Francis said the core of the Easter message was about returning to the basics of faith and asking: "Have I gone off on roads and paths which made me forget it?"<br /><br />He said there was a need to recover "the fire which Jesus has kindled in the world and to bring that fire to all people, to the very ends of the earth".<br /><br />The message reiterates his previous calls for a Roman Catholic Church that is closer to ordinary people, more international and less "Vatican-centric".<br /><br />The mass wrapped up a series of Vatican ceremonies leading up to Easter Sunday -- the holiest day in the Christian calendar, which celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Tens of thousands of people are expected at mass on Easter today in St Peter's Square where the pope will deliver a blessing from the same balcony of the basilica where he first appeared on the night of his election last year.<br /><br />The Vatican then hosts a historic event on April 27 -- the first double papal canonisation, with popes John Paul II and John XXIII being declared saints.<br /><br />Hundreds of thousands are expected for the celebration, including many pilgrims from John Paul II's homeland, Poland.<br /><br />On Good Friday, Francis attended a traditional torch-lit ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome where he called for help to "abandoned people" and railed against "the monstruosity of humankind".<br /><br />Prayers read out during the ceremony touched on pressing social issues including drug addiction, unemployment, prison overcrowding and domestic abuse.<br /><br />Francis also instructed the Vatican almoner to give out charity to homeless people around Termini railway station, with each receiving a 50-euro ($69) note and an Easter greeting from the pope.<br /><br />On Holy Thursday, Francis washed the feet of 12 disabled people at a centre in Rome.<br />Last year, he had performed the traditional pre-Easter ritual on 12 inmates at a youth detention centre, including two young Muslims.<br /><br />Popes performing the ceremony -- which commemorates the gesture of humility believed to have been carried out by Jesus for his 12 disciples -- have usually washed the feet of priests.</p>
<p>Pope Francis on today called on Catholics to bring the message of God "to the very ends of the earth" during an Easter vigil mass in St Peter's Basilica.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Francis said the core of the Easter message was about returning to the basics of faith and asking: "Have I gone off on roads and paths which made me forget it?"<br /><br />He said there was a need to recover "the fire which Jesus has kindled in the world and to bring that fire to all people, to the very ends of the earth".<br /><br />The message reiterates his previous calls for a Roman Catholic Church that is closer to ordinary people, more international and less "Vatican-centric".<br /><br />The mass wrapped up a series of Vatican ceremonies leading up to Easter Sunday -- the holiest day in the Christian calendar, which celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />Tens of thousands of people are expected at mass on Easter today in St Peter's Square where the pope will deliver a blessing from the same balcony of the basilica where he first appeared on the night of his election last year.<br /><br />The Vatican then hosts a historic event on April 27 -- the first double papal canonisation, with popes John Paul II and John XXIII being declared saints.<br /><br />Hundreds of thousands are expected for the celebration, including many pilgrims from John Paul II's homeland, Poland.<br /><br />On Good Friday, Francis attended a traditional torch-lit ceremony at the Colosseum in Rome where he called for help to "abandoned people" and railed against "the monstruosity of humankind".<br /><br />Prayers read out during the ceremony touched on pressing social issues including drug addiction, unemployment, prison overcrowding and domestic abuse.<br /><br />Francis also instructed the Vatican almoner to give out charity to homeless people around Termini railway station, with each receiving a 50-euro ($69) note and an Easter greeting from the pope.<br /><br />On Holy Thursday, Francis washed the feet of 12 disabled people at a centre in Rome.<br />Last year, he had performed the traditional pre-Easter ritual on 12 inmates at a youth detention centre, including two young Muslims.<br /><br />Popes performing the ceremony -- which commemorates the gesture of humility believed to have been carried out by Jesus for his 12 disciples -- have usually washed the feet of priests.</p>