Candlelit Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter's

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI presided over a candlelit Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, ushering in the most important event of Christian Church calendar with a lengthy service attended by thousands.

The Church considers the period between Good Friday, which commemorates Jesus' crucifixion, and Easter Sunday, which marks his resurrection, as the most important of all vigils.

"This is the joy of the Easter Vigil: we are free," Benedict said in his homily on Saturday. "In the resurrection of Jesus, love has been shown to be stronger than death, stronger than evil."

Benedict opened the Mass by blessing a large white candle, which he then carried down the main aisle of the darkened basilica amid Latin chants. Slowly, the pews began
to light up as his lone flame was shared with candles carried by the faithful until finally the whole basilica twinkled.

During the service, Benedict was to baptize several people -- part of the joyful renewal Christians associate with Easter.

"Baptism is more than a bath, a purification. It is more than becoming part of a community," Benedict said. "It is a new birth. A new beginning in life."

Benedict, who turns 80 later this month, appeared to tire by the end of the more than two-hour Mass, which capped a busy Holy Week. On Good Friday, Benedict presided over two, long back-to-back public ceremonies, including an afternoon service and a late-night Way of the Cross procession at the Colosseum to mark Jesus' suffering and death.