MILWAUKEE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Thousands of people across the Milwaukee area and beyond celebrated Easter Sunday.

"This is a celebration of life," said Jerome Listecki, Archbishop Emeritus, with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. "This is this is why, our understanding we don’t deserve it, but why God loves us.”

Archbishop Emeritus, Jerome Listecki led Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, bringing a message of unity.

"This is the answer," said Archbishop Emeritus, Listecki. "You know everybody looks at all the differences and everybody tries to kind of say this is what will satisfy us. This is the only thing that will satisfy us. This is the only thing that actually will bring us together and brings us harmony and satisfaction and understanding.”

Hundreds of parishioners lined the pews in honor of Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"It means a lot, because that’s what we’re here for, that Jesus was here for all of us and he rose for all of us," said parishioner, Jay Matz. "We’re very excited to be here.”

"It’s a time to be thankful for everything and everyone around me,” said parishioner, Orson Pritchard.

This year marks first Easter with Pope Leo XIV serving as the head of the Catholic Church as the first American Pope, making Sundays service extra special for parishioners.

"We kind of take pride in the fact that we have a special connection to that office right now," Archbishop Emeritus, Jerome Listecki. "But our dedication to the office comes from the fact that we stand with Peter and confessing our faith and on this day, we listen to the words of the Pope who call us and challenges us to live the gospel.”

Those gathered say the best part of the Easter holiday is seeing the community come together as one.

"I feel like it’s very uniting in a time of such division," said Pritchard. "It brings people together and I quite like the music, because it’s not dividing. It’s something nice that I can do with people and be happy.