WASHINGTON—CardinalDaniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and Presidentof the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the followingstatement on the simple joy of the Resurrection.

Fullstatement follows:

"Jesuslives. This is the simple message of Easter. And because Jesus lives — so does hope,so does love, and so do we. Although Christ knew the pain of the Cross and theisolation of the tomb, His Death and Resurrection gives us the joy of the Resurrectionand the gift of eternal life.

Today,Christ offers us that gift of life and joy. How we chose to live that life, however,is up to us. Do we always treat one another as sisters and brothers in the eyesof God? Can we look beyond the distractions and despair of our own suffering tothe hope of the world to come? Jesus endured the pain and isolation to show usthe path to life.

Somuch of today's culture tempts us to see one another as different, dividing usinto ever more polarized camps. But, Jesus walked the Way of the Cross foreveryone. Everyone is in need of His love, and everyone is offered His love.

ThisEaster morning, let us acknowledge the gift of life Christ has given us. Let uslook into the empty tomb and proclaim with joy, proclaim with all our heartsand with our lives — that Jesus lives!

MayGod bless you. Happy Easter!"

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Keywords:Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Easter,Resurrection, Jesus, cross, life, joy, suffering, Way of the Cross, love.

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