Australia's church leaders are sharing a message of hope in an uncertain Easter period.
From trade wars, military wars and cyber wars to climate disasters, cost of living crises, economic instability and polarisation, Australians are living in a time of global upheaval.
"We can be short on reasons to hope," Sydney Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher said.
But as the great Martin Luther King Jr said, it's only when it's dark enough that we can see the stars.
"For Christians, hope is more than just sunny temperament or wishful thinking," Rev Fisher said.
"It's most evident when sorely tested. It sustains us doing our best when things are hard."
This year Catholics are marking the Jubilee of Hope, a time for followers to renew their trust in God.
Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide Patrick O'Regan said no matter the burdens people carry or how dark the world may seem, Christ's resurrection is the promise that light will always overcome darkness.
"Our world today faces many uncertainties, wars, struggles and personal hardships, yet Easter reminds us that we are not alone," he said.
"Christ has conquered death, and his victory is our hope as a church, our mission is to be bearers of this hope and of this peace."
For the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, chaos emanating from overseas can make it feel like the world is just holding on.
"We were already anxious, but now we are even more so," Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide Geoff Smith said.
But Anglicans can take solace in the resurrection of Jesus, which he said marks the defeat of death and the opening of a new reality for the world.
"This reality offers hope," Rev Smith said.
"Not hope in the future but hope today from the future."
The Easter period has kicked off with a generous start as Victorians dug deep to deliver a record-breaking $23,822,792 donation for the 2025 Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
But amid the fanfare, global charity UNICEF Australia is renewing its urgent appeal for support throughout the period, highlighting an escalation in devastation across war zones in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.
The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations has called for a boycott of Cadbury Easter eggs to send a message to its parent company, Mondelez, after it made more than US$1.4 billion in revenue in Russia and paid the Kremlin at least US$62 million in taxes.
Authorities at home are pleading for safety on the roads and by the water after a horror start to the long weekend, with five drownings and two still missing at sea.
Roads will be busier than usual as many people travel to visit family and friends or take the opportunity to get away.
This leads to an uptick in family violence, often because families, including those who don't see each other regularly, come into increased contact, which police say can increase stress and conflict.
