ACBC Easter Message 2025 – Archbishop Tim Costelloe SDB

Hope is at the heart of Easter

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, has issued the following Easter message:

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This Easter, as we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, I want to share with you a message of conversion, understanding, and mercy—a message that speaks directly to the heart of our faith.

As we continue our journey in this Jubilee Year 2025, a year proclaimed by Pope Francis with the theme Pilgrims of Hope, this theme calls us to renew our trust in God’s promises and to journey together, as a Church and as a nation, with hearts open to faith and to one another.

Hope is at the heart of Easter. When Jesus rose from the tomb, He conquered not only death but also fear, sin, and despair. In the face of life’s challenges, we too are called to be people of hope. As St Paul reminds us: “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5).

But hope requires conversion—a willingness to change, to listen, and to open our hearts to God and to each other. We live in a world where divisions can run deep, but Easter reminds us that in Christ, we are called to unity and understanding.

Pope Francis encourages us to embrace mercy, saying: “Let us never forget that mercy is the keystone of the life of faith” (Misericordiae Vultus). This means forgiving those who have hurt us, seeking reconciliation in our families and communities, and offering love to those who feel lost or excluded.

As we journey through this Jubilee Year, let us become true Pilgrims of Hope. Let us commit ourselves to lives of prayer, service, and love, so that we can be living signs of Christ’s presence in the world.

May the light of the Risen Christ shine in your hearts and homes this Easter.

Christ is Risen!

(Note to media: A video of this message, which can be shared on your social platforms, is available on YouTube )