The VaticanNews portal reports an Easter message from Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap., the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, a territorial jurisdiction covering the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen. In his message, Bishop Martinelli emphasizes that “love conquers” and that Christ’s Resurrection guarantees “evil does not have the final word.” He laments that “humanity has lost its sense of reason” in the face of war and violence, urging the faithful to “testify that love conquers.” He acknowledges the impact of the war on liturgical celebrations, noting some were moved online, and expresses hope for a return to communal worship. The message calls for prayer for peace, reflects on the Cross as the answer to the “mystery of iniquity,” and reassures the faithful that “Death could not hold Jesus back.” The core thesis presented is that in a time of fear and uncertainty, the Resurrection changes how believers view life, death, and pain, inviting them to “reread creation, the world, and history in the light of Christ, crucified and risen.”
This message is a quintessential product of the post-conciliar apostasy, reducing the sublime mystery of the Resurrection to a vague, naturalistic sentiment of hope. It systematically omits the non-negotiable doctrines of the Catholic faith, replacing the Kingship of Christ with a nebulous “love,” and ignoring the Social Reign of Christ the King over nations and the absolute necessity of the Catholic Church for salvation. It is a pastoral speech perfectly tailored for the “abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place: a clergy that speaks like psychologists and social workers, not ambassadors of Christ the King.