By Kaaren Morrissey in Sydney

Christian faith leaders are encouraging Australians to have hope this Easter, in the face of wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and high living costs.

Across the nation Christians will mark the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday with church services, family gatherings and the giving of Easter eggs.

“It is true that we can easily be overwhelmed when we see the horrors which continue to unfold in Ukraine, in the Holy Land and in the wider Middle East, in Sudan, in Myanmar and in so many other places around the world,” Archbishop Timothy Costello, head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said in his Easter message.

“We can shake our heads in desperation as we encounter more and more homeless people living on the streets with no apparent solution in sight.

“Easter reminds us that the triumph of Jesus over the powers of hatred and evil does, in fact, offer a powerful antidote to all this.”

An essential part of Easter was Jesus’ resurrection, the head of the Anglican Church in Australia, Archbishop Geoffrey Smith said.

“Right now, the whole creation is waiting for its redemption,” he said.

“There continues to be war and violence and injustice. Dictators unleash shocking suffering. There is poverty and famine. Abuse, cruelty and carelessness.

“An uneven distribution of the resources of the world means a few have too much and many have too little.”

But “what we see now in the world is not what it will be,” he added.

“The future is not one of death but life and new life.”

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Reverend Sharon Hollis, said that in a “broken world” the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection gives hope.

“It’s for those who are grieving, for the boastful, those who enact violence and those who suffer violence,” she said.

“For the broken humanity in each of us, the good news of resurrection life is proclaimed.”

Pastor Wayne Alcorn, national president of Australian Christian Churches, also said the resurrection brings hope.

“At a time when life seems filled with stress, uncertainty and anxiety, we have peace that comes from a confidence that we are accepted, forgiven and loved by God,” he added.

All the leaders, including their counterparts who make up the National Council of Churches in Australia, joined in wishing everyone a happy Easter.

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton said whether you were Christian or not, Easter was a time for rest and reflection.

“At Easter, may we remember the importance of the Christian faith to so many Australians, especially its messages of hope, renewal and new life,” Mr Dutton said.

“This Easter, may we again reflect on how lucky we are to live in the greatest country in the world.”