Cardinal Leo Easter Message 2026
Cardinal Leo Easter Message 2026
Message for Easter
5 April 2026
His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo
Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Praised be Jesus Christ. Happy and Holy Easter to you.
Holy Mother Church celebrates with the greatest joy ever the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Striving to live our faith sincerely and as loyal, loving and engaged sons and daughters of God and
of the Church, we are called and drawn into the experience of Easter Sunday which renews our
hope and changes our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Paschal Mystery we celebrate invites us to consider the glory of the Resurrected Christ and in
this mystery, we rejoice not only that Christ is truly alive and remains present in our lives today
and in that of the Church, but also that our Heavenly Father has been faithful to his promise, he
who from all eternity desired to gather his children into communion through his Son. At the
beginning of Lent, I encouraged us to look beyond ourselves – to seek reconciliation with God and
with one another, and to rediscover the essential place of community in God’s saving plan (CCC
759-760). We must never forget that the Paschal Mystery is not only the remembrance of Christ’s
Passion, Death, and Resurrection – those historical events that took place a long time ago and far
away – this mystery is the very pattern of all Christian life and forms who we are.
Our Lord’s Death and Resurrection are not simply events of the past; they are the living form of
the Church’s existence. As you may remember, before the Resurrection, the disciples were
scattered, fearful, and locked away. After the Resurrection, they are transformed, those fleeing to
Emmaus return to Jerusalem, and those locked away in fear eventually venture out to the ends of
the earth to proclaim the Good News. The Resurrection does not eliminate the journey of life with
its trials and uncertainties; rather, it gives the journey its meaning, purpose, new hope and new
dynamism. In the same way, the difficulties we experience – personally and communally – are
not magically erased.
Tensions, conflicts, scarcity, injustice, and uncertainty remain real; yet in the light of Easter, they
are transformed. They become moments of discernment and grace because the Risen Christ walks
with us.
When we lose someone we love or suffer a major setback - a relationship that has ended - a job
opportunity that did not pan out - an illness that has come up or persists, or the anxiety that
afflicts so many of us, especially the young – the temptation, in these situations, is to retreat, to
isolate, to want to be alone, to run away. The Good News of the Resurrection is that Jesus came
for us and is present to us and wants to help us precisely in those very dark and seemingly hopeless
circumstances. When the Apostles were broken down thinking he was gone forever, Mary
Magdalene announced to them the great news: he is alive. When the Disciples of Emmaus were
discouraged, disillusioned and walked away from the community, Jesus came to them and filled
them with new hope and opened for them incredible horizons.
Each of us has a story to tell, a sacred story to share. Each of our existential narratives are marked
by light and shadows. But the author of our lives will never let us go through our hardships alone.
The Power of the Resurrection is available to us today. The possibility of a new life is in our reach;
the boundless energy of transforming grace is at our fingertips; the consolation and comfort of
the Holy Spirit is but a prayer away; the second chances, and third and fourth which we really
need, are part and parcel of God’s merciful plan. There is nothing to fear; there is endless love,
endless hope in this life, endless light into which we are called. The Resurrection of Christ points
to the renewal of our daily lives as well as to that day, one day, the last day, when we will be called
to enter the fulness of life in eternity. May that eternity begin here and now, in our families and
communities, by a daily decision to live out the Catholic faith with greater commitment,
outstanding generosity, abundant virtue and authentic holiness.
Blessed Easter Season to you and your loved ones. Christ is Risen – truly he is Risen.
