"The weakening of faith in the resurrection of Jesus consequently weakens the testimony of the believers", because, "if the faith in resurrection fails within the Church, everything will stop, everything will come apart", while conversely "the adhesion of the heart and mind to Christ dead and resurrected changes the life and enlightens the whole existence of people and populations".” “This was said by the Pope, who devoted today’s general audience in Saint Peter’s Square where the Holy Father arrived by helicopter from his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, welcomed by about 30 thousand devotees to the meaning of Easter, to the "profession of faith in the resurrection of Christ, a surprising event that is the turning point in Christianity", "a great mystery that has changed the course of history and that becomes topical in every Eucharistic celebration". "Isn’t the certainty that Christ has resurrected that gives courage, prophetic daring and perseverance to the martyrs of all times?", went on Benedict XVI: "Isn’t the encounter with Jesus alive that converts and fascinates so many men and women who since the beginning of Christianity have kept leaving everything to follow Him and put their lives at the service of the Gospel? If Christ has not resurrected, said the Apostle Paul, then our preaching is useless and our faith is useless too". (continued)” “
