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Pope decries "natural calamities," "human tragedies" / Pope voices "apprehension" over plight of Africans / Christians Observe Easter Amid World Troubles / Pope condemns the continuing slaughter in Iraq and hunger in Africa
Twenty-one stories (updated originally both to add the DW, RFE/RL, Bloomberg, and Sky News stories, and to reflect a newer version of the first one from AFP; updated further to reflect a still-newer version of the first AFP story; updated still further primarily both to reflect newer versions of the AP, BBC, and AFP stories, and to add the ones from Zenit, the UK's "Times", the UK's "Telegraph", the UK's "Herald", VOA, and the "Christian Post"; updated yet again primarily to add the one from JTA; updated even further to add the ones from the "Scotsman" and the UK's "Guardian"):
(Vatican Radio, AsiaNews, the AP, and Zenit have posted the full English-language text of the address.)
From AFP...
(The earlier versions are also still available.)
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday lamented "suffering" in the world's strife-torn and poorest regions, as millions across the globe marked Easter, the holiest day in the Christian calendar.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world! Natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction are not lacking," the head of the Roman Catholic Church said in his traditional Easter address.
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion ..." he said.
Speaking from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica to a crowd of tens of thousands, the pope evoked the plight of victims of last week's tsunami in the Solomon Islands, as well as the ongoing carnage in Iraq.
He said [that] "nothing positive comes from Iraq" which is "torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
The pope rarely speaks about Iraq, where bloodshed continues despite a massive security operation since February 14 to quell daily violence that has killed thousands in the past year alone.
He also expressed "apprehension" at "the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa," the world's poorest continent, notably Darfur, Somalia and Zimbabwe.
The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the leader of the world's Anglicans, urged Christians to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation, saying [that] they could help resolve conflicts around the world.
Recalling recent progress in the Northern Ireland peace process, where rival Protestant and Catholic parties agreed last month for the first time to share power in the British-run province, Williams said: "Going forward requires us all to learn a measure of openness, to discover things about ourselves [that] we did not know, seeing ourselves through the eyes of another."
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin marked Easter by returning a long-lost icon of Our Lady of Vladimir to Russia's Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, and pledged to return other religious relics lost in the Soviet era.
Alexy II, on his part, put aside long-running differences with the Roman Catholic Church to send Easter greetings to Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter quoted by the Interfax news agency [on] Saturday.
"I ... wish you blessed peace, good health and the Risen Saviour's help in your lofty service" on the "ever-joyful holiday of Easter," he said.
For the first time, an icon -- a holy work of art venerated by Orthodox Christians -- was placed near the altar, as Benedict XVI presided over Easter mass in the Vatican's St Peter's Square.
Celebrations took different forms across the world.
Solomon Islanders prayed for victims of the tsunami, while a priest urged the people to take up the task of rebuilding.
"Now is not the time to wait and sit for supplies. Now is time for you to make work, to start and rebuild after the tsunami," Reverend John Pihavaka told his congregation.
Iraq's dwindling Christian minority donned their Sunday best, but held quiet festivities, fearful of the bombings and abductions terrorising Baghdad's streets.
In Jerusalem, thousands of worshippers from five Christian faiths celebrated Easter at the traditional site of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection -- the city's contested Holy Sepulchre Church.
Millions of worshippers crammed into churches in Greece around midnight [on] Saturday to hear priests announce that "Christ is risen." Easter celebrations are the biggest religious festival in Greece, where 97 percent of the population is Orthodox.
In Ukraine, Easter had political undertones, with hundreds of protesters against President Viktor Yushchenko celebrating with traditional cakes and eggs sporting the blue-and-white colours of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who has defied Yushchenko's order to dissolve parliament.
There were demonstrations in Germany, with about 12,000 gathering in the eastern city of Fretzdorf for a traditional pacifist Easter march. This year's target was government plans for a military bombing range north of Berlin.
More than 1,000 people also marched about 50 kilometres (31 miles) between Duisburg and Dortmund to protest against the participation of German troops in military missions abroad.
Easter was celebrated with great fervour in Poland, where more than 90 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, prompting one priest to remark that his church might need to be enlarged for the growing numbers of worshippers.
US President George W. Bush marked Easter Sunday by attending church at a Texas military base, and said [that] he had prayed for peace and for the safety of US troops.
Also from AFP (also here)...
Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday expressed "apprehension" over the plight of Africans in several parts of the world's poorest continent, notably Zimbabwe, Darfur and Somalia.
"I look with apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa," he said in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica.
"Zimbabwe is in the grip of a grievous crisis, and for this reason, the bishops of that country, in a recent document [also here, here, and here], indicated prayer and a shared commitment for the common good as the only way forward," he said.
The bishops opposed a crackdown on the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, with assaults and detentions of its members, including leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was arrested twice last month.
They said [that] the crackdown "shows much disrespect for human life and falls far below the dignity of both the perpetrator and the victim."
The pope said [on] Sunday: "In Darfur and in the neighbouring countries, there is a catastrophic, and sadly to say underestimated, humanitarian situation," referring to the western [region] of Sudan and neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic.
According to the United Nations, at least 200,000 people have died, and more than two million [have] fled their homes, since the Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003. Some sources say [that] the death toll is much higher.
"In Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the violence and looting of the past weeks raises fears for the future of the Congolese democratic process and the reconstruction of the country," the pope said.
"In Somalia, the renewed fighting has driven away the prospect of peace, and [has] worsened a regional crisis, especially with regard to the displacement of populations and the traffic of arms," he said.
From the AP...
(The earlier versions are also still available.)
On Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI lamented the ``continual slaughter'' in Iraq and unrest in Afghanistan, as he denounced violence in the name of religion.
In his message for Easter, Benedict said [that] suffering worldwide puts faith to the test.
``How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world,'' the pontiff told tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered Sunday at St. Peter's Square, where he had just finished celebrating Mass.
Benedict, delivering his traditional ``Urbi et Orbi'' Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, denounced terrorism and kidnappings, and ``the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion,'' as well as human rights violations.
``Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability,'' Benedict said. ``In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees.''
He also had harsh words about the ``underestimated humanitarian situation'' in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering. These included violence and looting in [DR] Congo, fighting in Somalia, and the ``grievous crisis'' in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.''
Benedict said [that] political ``paralysis'' threatened Lebanon's future.
``Suffering, evil, injustice, death, especially when it strikes the innocent such as children who are victims of war and terrorism, of sickness and hunger, does not all of this put our faith to the test?''
In contrast to his sorrowful address were the bright red, pink, yellow and orange splashes of color from flowers which adorned the steps of the basilica and surrounded the outdoor altar where he celebrated Mass under hazy sunshine.
Voices of choir boys floated across the square, as did the smell of incense sprinkled by clerics.
In an unusual touch for the Vatican's Easter Mass, black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy. This year, Eastern and Western celebrations coincided. The two rites often celebrate Easter on different dates, because of different church calendars.
Benedict ended his appearance by offering Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and gave the crowd his apostolic blessing.
After a grueling Holy Week schedule of long public appearances, the pontiff, who turns 80 on April 16, planned to spend a few days in the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban Hills, south of Rome.
Besides his birthday, April also brings the second anniversary of his election as head of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.
From DPA...
Pope Benedict XVI marked Easter Sunday with a Mass in St Peter's Square and a message to the world recalling the "natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction".
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons," the pope told thousands of faithful packed in Rome's famous piazza.
"My thoughts go to recent events in Madagascar, in the Solomon Islands, in Latin America, and in other regions of the world," he added.
The head of the globe's 1 billion Catholics also spoke of his "apprehension" at the conditions in Darfur, Somalia and other African nations, and called for reconciliation and peace in East Timor.
In his message, the pope said Afghanistan continued to be marked by "growing unrest and instability", and noted that while there were "some signs of hope" in the Middle East from dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, "unfortunately nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees".
Benedict said that while the suffering of innocent children, "victims of war and terrorism, of sickness and hunger", represented a severe test of the faith of many Catholics, Jesus Christ had "countered the arrogance of evil with the supremacy of his love."
The ceremony was attended by an estimated 100,000 people and was broadcast on live television in 67 countries.
The pontiff then imparted his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing "to the city and the world" and his Easter greeting in 62 languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese and his native German, amid chants of "Viva il papa" (long live the pope) from the crowd.
German-born Joseph Ratzinger turns 80 on April 16, and was celebrating the second Easter since his 2005 election as pope.
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons," the pope told thousands of faithful packed in Rome's famous piazza.
"My thoughts go to recent events in Madagascar, in the Solomon Islands, in Latin America, and in other regions of the world," he added.
The head of the globe's 1 billion Catholics also spoke of his "apprehension" at the conditions in Darfur, Somalia and other African nations, and called for reconciliation and peace in East Timor.
In his message, the pope said Afghanistan continued to be marked by "growing unrest and instability", and noted that while there were "some signs of hope" in the Middle East from dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, "unfortunately nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees".
Benedict said that while the suffering of innocent children, "victims of war and terrorism, of sickness and hunger", represented a severe test of the faith of many Catholics, Jesus Christ had "countered the arrogance of evil with the supremacy of his love."
The ceremony was attended by an estimated 100,000 people and was broadcast on live television in 67 countries.
The pontiff then imparted his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing "to the city and the world" and his Easter greeting in 62 languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese and his native German, amid chants of "Viva il papa" (long live the pope) from the crowd.
German-born Joseph Ratzinger turns 80 on April 16, and was celebrating the second Easter since his 2005 election as pope.
From Reuters...
(Earlier versions--in addition to the Africa-specific one below--are also still available on AlertNet.)
Pope Benedict, in his Easter message, made an impassioned call for world peace on Sunday that lamented the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and the growing unrest in Afghanistan.
The 79-year-old Pope made the appeal in his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square, as he concluded the second Easter season of his still-young pontificate.
In the speech, televised to millions of viewers in 67 countries at the end of Easter Sunday mass, he listed his worries about problems facing the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
"Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees," the Pope said.
The Pope also lamented the "growing unrest and instability" in Afghanistan, which is bracing for a bloody spring offensive after a resurgent Taliban staged the most intensive year of fighting since they were ousted in 2001.
He condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify a "thousand faces of violence".
"Peace is sorely needed," the Pontiff said.
The Pope read the speech from the same central balcony of St Peter's Basilica where he appeared to the world for the first time as pontiff, after his election nearly two years ago.
Resplendent in gold vestments, the Pope delivered Easter greetings in 62 languages, including Hebrew and Arabic. The crowd below, basking in the sun of a warm spring day, erupted into cheers as he blessed them.
HOPE FOR ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN DIALOGUE
In another part of the speech, the Pope said [that] the Middle East's future was "put seriously in jeopardy" by political paralysis in Lebanon, where the government is challenged by an opposition that includes Hezbollah.
But he noted "some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority".
His comments followed the formation of a Palestinian unity government last month. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also said on Friday [that] an Israeli soldier, abducted by Gaza militants 10 months ago in a cross-border raid, would be released soon.
Turning his attention toward Africa, the Pontiff lamented violence and looting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and said [that] renewed fighting in Somalia had "driven away the prospect of peace and worsened a regional crisis".
"In Darfur and in the neighbouring countries, there is a catastrophic, and, sadly to say, underestimated humanitarian situation," the Pope said.
The Easter event is just one of many important milestones in April for the Pope. He celebrates his 80th birthday on April 16. On April 19, he will celebrate the second anniversary of his election as Pontiff.
Pope Benedict said on Sunday [that] recent violence in Somalia, where the capital, Mogadishu, has seen some of its heaviest fighting in 15 years, had dashed hopes for peace and worsened the outlook for the region.
"The renewed fighting has driven away the prospect of peace and worsened a regional crisis, especially with regard to the displacement of populations and the traffic of arms," the Pontiff said in his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message. A joint offensive by Somali government troops and allied Ethiopian forces led to entire pro-insurgent neighbourhoods being demolished with rockets, tanks and artillery from March 29 [to] April 1, in fighting that killed at least 400 people and wounded about 1,000.
The Pontiff also said [that] he looked with "apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa".
He cited Darfur's "catastrophic" humanitarian situation, a "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, and violence and looting in the the Democratic Republic of Congo.
From the BBC...
Pope Benedict XVI has lamented that "nothing positive comes from Iraq", in his Easter message in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.
In a live televised address, the pontiff said [that] Iraq was being "torn apart by continual slaughter".
Pope Benedict also voiced worry over continuing violence and human suffering in parts of Asia and Africa.
Earlier the pontiff led Easter Sunday Mass before tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the square.
Easter Sunday is the holiest day in the Christian calendar, marking the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday.
'Signs of hope'
Speaking from the balcony overlooking the square, Pope Benedict expressed his concern at the level of suffering in the world.
"Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees," he said.
His remarks came hours after at least 15 people were killed in an explosion in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad, in the latest violence in Iraq.
But the Pope noted "some signs of hope" in the Middle East, in what he called "the dialogue" between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Talks between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have continued despite Israel's boycott of the recently formed Palestinian government of national unity, because it contains the militant Hamas group.
The Pope also expressed fears about the political future of Lebanon, which he said was in serious jeopardy.
'Faces of violence'
The pontiff spoke of the faith of Christians in the risen Christ but he also painted a very sombre picture of a world disfigured by war and terrorism.
He condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify a "thousand faces of violence".
"Peace is sorely needed," he said.
The Pope said he also looked with apprehension at conditions prevailing in several parts of Africa, including the "catastrophic" humanitarian disaster in Darfur, violence and looting in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe.
After giving his Easter blessing, the Pope, dressed in gold vestments, greeted pilgrims in more than 60 different languages.
The Pope will spend the next few days at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, before returning to Rome.
Pope Benedict on Sunday celebrated Easter mass by decrying the "continual slaugter" in Iraq and making a plea for peace in his traditional Easter message on Peter's Square on the holiest day of the Christian calendar.
The 79-year-old Pope made the appeal in his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square.
In the speech, televised to millions of viewers in 67 countries at the end of Easter Sunday mass, he expressed his worries about problems facing the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world. Natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction are not lacking," Pope Benedict said.
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons."
Apprehension over plight of Africans
Resplendent in his gold vestments and mitre sparkling in the sun, the Pope said [that] he was particularly pained by events and conditions in Africa.
"I look with apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa," in several parts of the world's poorest continent, notably Zimbabwe, Darfur and Somalia," the pontiff said.
"Zimbabwe is in the grip of a grievous crisis, and for this reason, the bishops of that country, in a recent document, indicated prayer and a shared commitment for the common good as the only way forward," he said.
"Nothing positive comes from Iraq"
In a rare mention, the pontiff also spoke out on Iraq, lamenting that "nothing positive comes from Iraq."
The country is "torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees," the pope said, appealing "to all those who hold in their hands the fate of Iraq, that there will be an end to the brutal violence that has brought so much bloodshed to the country, and that every one of its inhabitants will be safe to lead a normal life."
Easter Sunday saw a series of attacks in the Baghdad area that killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens, security officials said in the Iraqi capital.
The Pope also lamented the "growing unrest and instability" in Afghanistan, which is bracing for a bloody spring offensive after a resurgent Taliban staged the most intensive year of fighting since they were ousted in 2001.
"Peace is sorely needed"
He condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify a "thousand faces of violence."
"Peace is sorely needed," the Pontiff said.
In another part of the speech, the Pope said [that] the Middle East's future was "put seriously in jeopardy" by political paralysis in Lebanon, where the government is challenged by an
opposition that includes Hezbollah.
opposition that includes Hezbollah.
But he noted "some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority."
The Pope read the speech from the same central balcony of St Peter's Basilica where he appeared to the world for the first time as pontiff, after his election nearly two years ago.
"Finally, I cannot forget the difficulties faced daily by the Christian communities and the exodus of Christians from that blessed Land which is the cradle of our faith," the 79-year-old pontiff said.
Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday. This year all Christians, regardless of the calendar [that] they follow, are celebrating Easter on the same day.
Pope Benedict XVI today marked Easter Sunday with a wide-ranging speech on conflicts and "natural calamities" around the world.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," the pontiff lamented during the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and the world") blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. "Natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction are not lacking."
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons," the pope said.
Benedict decried the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and the "growing unrest and instability" in Afghanistan.
"I look with apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa," he said.
The pope noted a dimming "prospect of peace" in Somalia; the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe; the "catastrophic, and sadly to say, underestimated, humanitarian situation" in Sudan and neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic, where hundreds of thousands have died and millions fled their homes since Darfur was beset by violence in early 2003; and "fears for the future of the Congolese democratic process and the reconstruction of [the Democratic Republic of the Congo]."
Benedict cited "signs of hope" in the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
But he tempered that comment with his assertion that "nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees" and "the paralysis of [Lebanon's] political institutions [that] threatens the role that the country is called to play in the Middle East and puts its future seriously in jeopardy."
Pope Benedict XVI appealed for peace in Afghanistan, Iraq and in the Middle East in a traditional Easter message today that included prayers in Arabic and Hebrew.
The Pope, in his second Easter celebration, called for reconciliation in Afghanistan, where there is ``growing unrest and instability,'' and in Iraq, which is ``bloodied by continuous massacres.'' Benedict also called for Lebanon to find a new role in mediating between Israel and Palestinians in his ``Urbi et Orbi'' speech.
The address, whose title means ``To the City and to the World'' in Latin, is an occasion for the pontiff to speak about international affairs and the concerns of the Catholic Church. He delivers another such message at Christmas.
The pontiff recited an Easter blessing in 62 languages, including Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese, and his native German in front of tens of thousands of spectators in St. Peter's Square, many of whom chanted ``Viva il Papa!'' The celebration was broadcast live to 67 countries, news agency Ansa said.
Benedict expressed ``apprehension'' about the plight of many African areas, including Zimbabwe, Darfur and Somalia.
About 3,000 demonstrators in Rome marched today against the death penalty, calling for the government to push the United Nations to declare a universal moratorium on capital punishment. The demonstrators, led by Italian Trade Minister Emma Bonino, and Marco Panella, both leaders of the ruling coalition's [Nonviolent/Transnational] Radical Party, ended their two-hour march in St. Peter's square.
They said [that] they hoped [that] the Pope would speak out against the death penalty in his homily today. The pontiff ``has a great opportunity and responsibility to speak to world leaders,'' Bonino said before the speech. ``He knows how influential he is.''
Benedict didn't mention capital punishment, though he spoke against terrorism, ``disdain for life,'' and violation of human rights.
Benedict celebrates his 80th birthday [on] April 16.
Pope Benedict XVI has celebrated Easter Mass inside St Peter's Basilica, in Rome, before a crowd of more than 10,000 pilgrims.
In his annual message, the Pontiff made an impassioned call for world peace.
He said that "nothing positive" was happening in Iraq, and voiced concern about the growing unrest in Afghanistan and bloodshed in parts of Africa and Asia.
The 79-year-old also condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify the violence.
He said: "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees."
The pontiff singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and sad to say, underestimated, humanitarian situation" in Darfur.
He listed other African places of suffering, including: violence and looting in the Congo; fighting in Somalia; and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and corruption.
The pope said [that] only a negotiated solution could end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needs reconciliation ahead of elections.
Earlier he celebrated Easter Sunday Mass on the flower-adorned steps of St Peter's Basilica.
The pope ended his appearance by giving Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and blessing the crowd.
The Vatican said that TV outlets in 67 countries had arranged satellite links for the Easter service.
From Zenit...
The resurrection of Christ gives hope to a world afflicted by natural disasters, disease and violence, said Benedict XVI in his Easter message.
After celebrating Easter Mass today, and before imparting the blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world), the Pope read a message in which he said that "natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction are not lacking."
"Through the wounds of the Risen Christ we can see the evils which afflict humanity with the eyes of hope," the Pontiff said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to the crowds gathered in the square below on a sunny morning.
Hundreds of millions more people, in 67 countries, followed the event on radio or television.
Benedict XVI said in his message that his "thoughts go to recent events in Madagascar, in the Solomon Islands, in Latin America and in other regions of the world."
Catastrophe
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons," he said.
In particular, the Pontiff mentioned the several regions in Africa undergoing a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation, including Darfur and surrounding nations.
The Holy Father also mentioned the scourge of violence in Kinshasa in [DR] Congo, and in Somalia and Zimbabwe.
Benedict XVI said that "peace is sorely needed" in many places in the world, including East Timor, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
The Pope continued: "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees.
"In Lebanon, the paralysis of the country's political institutions threatens the role that the country is called to play in the Middle East, and puts its future seriously in jeopardy."
Christian exodus
The Holy Father then added: "I cannot forget the difficulties faced daily by the Christian communities and the exodus of Christians from that blessed land which is the cradle of our faith. I affectionately renew to these populations the expression of my spiritual closeness."
The Pope continued: "By his rising, the Lord has not taken away suffering and evil from the world, but has vanquished them at their roots by the superabundance of his grace.
"He has countered the arrogance of evil with the supremacy of his love."
After reading his message, Benedict XVI wished the world a happy Easter in 62 languages and imparted his blessing "urbi et orbi."
In English, the Pope said: "May the grace and joy of the Risen Christ be with you all."
In the afternoon the Holy Father departed for the summer papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Rome, to rest for a few days.
The Pontiff will return to Rome before his 80th birthday, April 16, and the second anniversary of his election as Pope, April 19.
After celebrating Easter Mass today, and before imparting the blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world), the Pope read a message in which he said that "natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction are not lacking."
"Through the wounds of the Risen Christ we can see the evils which afflict humanity with the eyes of hope," the Pontiff said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to the crowds gathered in the square below on a sunny morning.
Hundreds of millions more people, in 67 countries, followed the event on radio or television.
Benedict XVI said in his message that his "thoughts go to recent events in Madagascar, in the Solomon Islands, in Latin America and in other regions of the world."
Catastrophe
"I am thinking of the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons," he said.
In particular, the Pontiff mentioned the several regions in Africa undergoing a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation, including Darfur and surrounding nations.
The Holy Father also mentioned the scourge of violence in Kinshasa in [DR] Congo, and in Somalia and Zimbabwe.
Benedict XVI said that "peace is sorely needed" in many places in the world, including East Timor, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
The Pope continued: "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees.
"In Lebanon, the paralysis of the country's political institutions threatens the role that the country is called to play in the Middle East, and puts its future seriously in jeopardy."
Christian exodus
The Holy Father then added: "I cannot forget the difficulties faced daily by the Christian communities and the exodus of Christians from that blessed land which is the cradle of our faith. I affectionately renew to these populations the expression of my spiritual closeness."
The Pope continued: "By his rising, the Lord has not taken away suffering and evil from the world, but has vanquished them at their roots by the superabundance of his grace.
"He has countered the arrogance of evil with the supremacy of his love."
After reading his message, Benedict XVI wished the world a happy Easter in 62 languages and imparted his blessing "urbi et orbi."
In English, the Pope said: "May the grace and joy of the Risen Christ be with you all."
In the afternoon the Holy Father departed for the summer papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Rome, to rest for a few days.
The Pontiff will return to Rome before his 80th birthday, April 16, and the second anniversary of his election as Pope, April 19.
From VOA...
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Easter Mass in Saint Peter's Square [on] Sunday, and made an impassioned appeal for world peace in his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" message. He spoke of his concerns for Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. Tens of thousands of people were gathered at the Vatican for Pope Benedict's second Easter. Sabina Castelfranco reports for VOA from Rome.
Pilgrims and tourists from different nationalities crowded into Saint Peter's Square for the second Easter Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict. A sea of flowers adorned the steps of the basilica. Bells peeled, and then the sound of the choir rang out across the square.
The pope appeared in brilliant golden vestments to preside over a joyous celebration on Christianity's most important feast day, which marks the day [that] Jesus resurrected three days after his death.
At the end of the mass, the pope addressed a huge crowd from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica, overlooking the square.
"Christ is risen! Peace to You!" he said at the start of his Easter message to Christians all over the world. Then, the pope made an impassioned appeal for world peace.
Pope Benedict lamented the slaughter in Iraq, and the growing unrest and instability in Afghanistan.
"Nothing positive comes from Iraq," he said, "which is torn apart by continual slaughter as the population flees." But the pope did note that there are some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
Speaking of the church's concerns in the world, he said, how much suffering exists with natural calamities and human tragedies that cause innumerable victims and enormous material destruction.
The pope mentioned ["]the scourge of hunger, of incurable diseases, of terrorism and kidnapping of people and of the thousand faces of violence, which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion.["]
The pope also turned his thoughts to the African continent.
Pope Benedict mentioned the catastrophic and underestimated humanitarian situation in Sudan's Darfur region. He spoke of the violence and looting in [DR] Congo, which raises fears for the democratic process and reconstruction of the country.
The pope also said that renewed fighting in Somalia has driven away the prospect of peace and cited Zimbabwe, saying the country is in the grip of a grievous crisis.
Thousands listened to the pope's words in a sun-filled Saint Peter's Square. Millions more watched him on television, as he wished the world a Happy Easter in 62 different languages.
Pope Benedict now heads to the papal summer residence at Castelgandolfo, in the hills south of Rome, for a few days of rest. When he returns to the Vatican, the pope has two important dates on his calendar: his 80th birthday, on April 16, and the second anniversary of his election as pope, three days later.
Christians of different traditions around the world are observing Easter today, some amid violence and mourning.
More than 100 villagers on the tsunami-stricken Solomon Islands left their hillside camps to celebrate an Easter service at St. Luke's Anglican Church, on the outskirts of Gizo.
They said prayers for those who died from last week's earthquake and tsunami that flattened several villages and killed more than two dozen people, and sang traditional hymns in a concrete church decorated with tropical flowers and palm leaves. The pastor, the Rev. John Pihavaka, urged his flock to remain calm, and to share their remaining food and other provisions with those in greater need.
"We pray, especially for those people," one worshipper, 33-year-old Furner Smith Arebonato, told The Associated Press.
Solomon Islanders are predominantly Christian, and at least five churches of various denominations dot the hillsides around Gizo, according to AP. The Roman Catholic church was knocked down by the quake, but devotees gathered in the garden for their own Easter ceremony, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion.
Meanwhile in Iraq, the dwindling Christian minority donned their Sunday best and prayed for peace and security during quiet Easter celebrations at home, fearful of the bombings and abductions terrorizing Baghdad's streets.
"Despite the sorrow and pain, we have been preparing for the feast, which is upon us, buying new clothes for the children," said Hiyam, a 42-year-old mother of two arriving for the traditional Catholic mass with her husband, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Iraqi Christian community, which stood at more than one million people before the 1991 Gulf War, and is one of the oldest in the world, has shrunk over the years, with more and more people fleeing Iraq's insecurity for safer shores.
Also in Iraq, about 200 Southern Baptist soldiers held a sunrise Easter service led by U.S. Army Capt. Bruce Wagner. Wagner, a chaplain, regularly leads service for a small congregation of soldiers each week, reported The Cullman Times. The group met earlier in the week for a Good Friday service.
In his Easter message on Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI decried suffering in the world, lamenting the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and expressing worry over unrest and instability in Afghanistan.
Delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the pontiff noted "how many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world."
As tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists listened in the square, Benedict read out a litany of troubling current events, saying [that] he was thinking of the "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons."
According to AP, the pope singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and sad to say, underestimated, humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering, including violence and looting in [DR] Congo, fighting in Somalia — which, he said, drove away the prospect of peace — and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.
Benedict said only a negotiated solution could end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needs reconciliation ahead of elections.
Meanwhile, the leader of the world's Anglicans highlighted progress in the Northern Ireland peace process as an example of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation as he delivered his Easter sermon.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the congregation [on] Sunday at Canterbury Cathedral that both concepts were central to the Christian holiday's message, and could be applied to resolve conflicts around the world.
"Step towards your neighbour," he urged, according to AFP.
"When in our world we are faced with the terrible deadlocks of mutual hatred and suspicion, with rival stories of suffering and atrocity, we have to pray for this resurrection message to be heard," the archbishop added.
This year, the calendars of five major Christian faiths coincide with one another, something that happens only once every four years. Easter this year also falls during the weeklong Jewish festival of Passover, which brings thousands of Jews into the cramped Old City to worship at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site.
The Archbishop of York yesterday [Sunday] called for the release of a Scottish journalist kidnapped in Gaza.
In his Easter sermon, John Sentamu said [that] BBC reporter Alan Johnston was not an "enemy", and should be freed immediately. Mr Johnston, 44, disappeared on March 12. He has been held in captivity for longer than any of the other 11 journalists abducted in the Gaza strip over the last three years.
"The fear of the West, so to speak, has played its part in the horrendous kidnap of the BBC journalist Alan Johnston," the Archbishop said.
"In God's name, please release Alan Johnston. He is not your enemy. He is a symbol of ensuring that freedom of the press is not violated - an issue [that] Palestinian journalists are too familiar with, after facing routine attacks, harassment and arrests. Let the man free."
Mr Johnston has lived and worked in Gaza for the past three years. His car found abandoned, he was reportedly taken by masked gunmen as he returned to his apartment in Gaza City. So far no group has claimed responsibility for his kidnapping, or issued any demands.
Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland yesterday used his Easter message to urge Scots to take a bigger role in protecting the environment.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien described over-fishing, deforestation and pollution as among the planet's biggest challenges, and said [that] swapping a wasteful way of life with simple living was the best way of avoiding further destruction.
Cardinal O'Brien said: "We hear a great deal these days about climate change, and we do well to heed the warnings about global warming that come to us almost daily. But we are mistaken if we consider climate change to be the only problem, imagining [that] if we fly less, burn less fuel or plant more trees somehow the environmental damage will be corrected.
"Yes, we must fly less and burn less fuel and plant more trees, but these things alone are not enough and climate change is not the only crisis we face.
"Massive and devastating environmental catastrophes continue, unaffected by climate change or carbon emissions, and we must take the whole picture into account when we consider the damage being done to our mother Earth."
The Cardinal also singled out the environmental impact of modern fishing methods. He said: "Technology allows us to fish in the deep oceans, never before accessible to us. Far from solving our problems with fishing, this is creating new and more catastrophic dangers, because deep-sea fish stocks take longer to replenish than any others."
Speaking about Scotland's consumer culture, he said: "We take and use much more than our share and we cannot maintain this any longer. Quite simply, we must learn to live simply. By living simply, we will do all that our Easter faith demands of us."
Pope Benedict XVI's Easter message pointed to the suffering in the world, including what he described as "continual slaughter" in Iraq and bloodshed in parts of Africa and Asia. The head of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics delivered his message outdoors at the Vatican for tens of thousands of people.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," the Pope said, delivering his traditional Urbi et Orbi Easter address from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica, as pilgrims and tourists listened in the square.
The Pope read out a litany of troubling current events, and said [that] he was thinking of the "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons".
He singled out what he called the "catastrophic and, sad to say, underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering, including violence and looting in [DR] Congo, fighting in Somalia and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe.
The Pope added that only a negotiated solution could end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needs reconciliation ahead of elections.
Pope Benedict XVI has lamented the fact that "nothing positive" is happening in Iraq, and denounced unrest and bloodshed in Afghanistan, Africa and Asia, in his traditional Easter message.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," the pontiff told tens of thousands gathered in St Peter's Square on what is Christianity's most joyful feast day.
The Pope read out a long list of troubling current events, from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, saying [that] he was thinking of the "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons."
He said: "Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability.
"In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
He singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and sad to say, underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places, including violence and looting in [DR] Congo, fighting in Somalia - which, he said, drove away the prospect of peace.
He also singled out the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.
The pontiff called for a negotiated solution to end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needs reconciliation ahead of elections next year.
Earlier he celebrated Easter Mass on the steps of St Peter's Basilica in bright sunshine.
In an unusual touch for the Vatican's Easter Mass, black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy. This year, Eastern and Western celebrations coincided. The two rites often celebrate Easter on different dates, because of different church calendars.
Orthodox faithful in the Balkans, in Russia, in Greece and other places celebrated Easter with long, traditional ceremonies. Russia made an exception to its cutoff of transport links with [Georgia], to allow three charter flights of Georgians to come to Moscow for the Easter period.
The Pope ended his appearance by giving Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and giving the crowd his apostolic blessing.
In an implicit rebuke to Tony Blair and President Bush, the Pope lamented yesterday [Sunday] that "nothing positive" was coming from Iraq.
The country had been "torn apart by continual slaughter", he said, while in Afghanistan there was growing unrest and instability. "How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," he told the tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square to [hear] his traditional Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) Easter address. "Peace is sorely needed."
Pope Benedict XVI's shimmering gold vestments contrasted with his list of world tragedies. He said that he was thinking of "the scourge of hunger, of incurable disease" and of "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons".
The reference to kidnapping came amid reports that the Taleban had killed the Afghan interpreter of Daniele Mastrogiacomo, the Italian journalist released by kidnappers last month.
President Karzai had freed five senior Taleban members to secure Mastrogiacomo's release. The Taleban beheaded Mastrogiacomo's driver and held his interpreter, to try to secure the release of more of prisoners, but President Karzai ruled out any further releases.
The Pope, who turns 80 this month, said that in the Middle East, "besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees".
The Vatican has been a consistent opponent of the invasion of Iraq, with the late Pope John Paul II urging Mr Blair to avert the war early on.
Pope Benedict added that he deplored the catastrophic situation in Darfur and the violence in [DR] Congo, Somalia and Zimbabwe.
"I look with apprehension at the conditions prevailing in several regions of Africa," he said.
Pope Benedict XVI gave the traditional Easter address today [Sunday] and complained that "nothing positive" was happening in Iraq, as he read out a long list of violent current events.
In England, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, told his congregation that forgiveness and reconciliation were needed to resolve conflicts around the world.
Speaking to tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square, the pontiff said [that] he was thinking [of] people that were victims of terrorism and kidnapping.
Delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he read out the list, and said [that] he was thinking of "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation of human rights and the exploitation of persons."
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability. In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civil population flees."
He singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and sad to say, underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering, including violence and looting in [DR] Congo, fighting in Somalia -- which, he said, drove away the prospect of peace [--] and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.
The Pope also called for a negotiated solution to end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needs reconciliation ahead of elections.
Earlier he celebrated Easter Mass on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica under hazy sunshine.
At Canterbury Cathedral, south-east England, Dr Williams, highlighted progress in the Northern Ireland peace process as an example of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation, as he delivered his Easter sermon.
He told the congregation that both concepts were central to the Christian holiday's message, and could be applied to resolve conflicts around the world.
In a historic deal last month, rival Protestant and Catholic parties agreed, for the first time, to share power at the partially devolved assembly in the British-run province.
Williams said [that] reconciliation between the two communities after three decades of violence and suspicion had finally allowed people on both sides of the sectarian divide to hear each other's opinions and stories.
"Everyone in this history made decisions, some shockingly evil, some tragic, some foolish. Those decisions and the sufferings that came from them don't have the power to tell you what decisions [that] you have to make today," he said.
The most senior cleric in the Church of England told the congregation that acknowledging wrong-doing [and] error, and understanding alternative perspectives, were vital to promote peace.
"Going forward requires us all to learn a measure of openness, to discover things about ourselves [that] we did not know, seeing ourselves through the eyes of another," he said.
"What they see may be fair or unfair, but it is a reality that has been driving someone's reactions and decisions. We'd better listen, hateful and humiliating though it may be for us."
Dr Williams called on people to "step towards your neighbour" as Christians commemorated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion.
"When in our world we are faced with the terrible deadlocks of mutual hatred and suspicion, with rival stories of suffering and atrocity, we have to pray for this resurrection message to be heard," he said.
Elsewhere, Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and other members of the royal family attended an Easter service at Saint George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
From JTA...
Pope Benedict XVI in his annual Easter message noted some "signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority", while lamenting the "continual slaughter" in Iraq. Also citing unrest in Afghanistan, the pontiff denounced terrorism and kidnappings, and "the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion," as well as human rights violations.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," Benedict told tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered [on] Sunday at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where he had just finished celebrating Mass. Benedict said [that] suffering worldwide puts faith to the test.
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability," he said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
He also had harsh words about the "underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur, as well as other African places of suffering.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," Benedict told tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered [on] Sunday at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, where he had just finished celebrating Mass. Benedict said [that] suffering worldwide puts faith to the test.
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability," he said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
He also had harsh words about the "underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur, as well as other African places of suffering.
POPE Benedict yesterday [Sunday] made an impassioned call for world peace in an Easter message that lamented the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and the growing unrest in Afghanistan.
The 79-year-old Pope made the appeal in his Easter urbi et orbi message - "to the city and the world" - to tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square, as he concluded the second Easter season of his pontificate.
In the speech, watched on television by millions in 67 countries, at the end of Easter Sunday mass, he listed his worries about problems facing the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," he said.
Pope Benedict read out a long list of troubling current events, saying [that] he was thinking of the "terrorism and kidnapping of people, of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion, of contempt for life, the violation of human rights and exploitation of persons".
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability," he said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
The Pope said [that] the Middle East's future was "put seriously in jeopardy" by political paralysis in Lebanon, where the government is challenged by an opposition that includes Hezbollah.
In Africa, he singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and, sad to say, underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur, but also highlighted suffering elsewhere on the continent: on-going violence and looting in [DR] Congo; the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption; and renewed fighting in Somalia.
The fresh violence in that country - centred on the Somali capital of Mogadishu - had "driven away the prospect of peace and worsened a regional crisis", the Pope said.
He also called for a negotiated solution to end the drawn-out, bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said [that] East Timor needed reconciliation ahead of elections. "Peace is sorely needed," the Pontiff said.
In an unusual touch for the Vatican's Easter Mass - perhaps as a demonstration of how old conflicts can be set aside - black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy.
This year, the [eastern] and western church celebrations coincided. They often mark Easter on different dates, because they use different calendars.
Orthodox faithful in the Balkans, in Russia, in Greece and other places celebrated Easter with long, traditional ceremonies. Joining in the spirit, Russia made an exception to its block of transport links with Georgia, to allow three flights from the country to Moscow for the Easter period.
Pope Benedict ended his speech with Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and giving the crowd his apostolic blessing.
• In Iraq yesterday, up to 17 people were killed and two dozen [were] wounded by a car bomb in Mahmudiya, south of Baghdad. The US military also said [that] four American troops died in an explosion north-east of the city on Saturday.
And in Sri Lanka yesterday, a suspected Tamil Tiger claymore-mine ambush killed one Sri Lankan army soldier and injured several others.
Easter sermons balance despair with hope [sidebar]
RELIGIOUS leaders across the country [the UK] used their Easter Sunday sermons to address their most pressing concerns, with hope an overriding theme.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the head of the Catholic Church in Scotland, focused on the damage being done to the environment.
In his address, he called on Scots to be less wasteful, revealing plans by a coalition of Catholic organisations to launch a "live simply" project to encourage people to care for the planet.
Overfishing, deforestation and pollution must be tackled, along with climate change, he said.
"Massive and devastating environmental catastrophes continue, unaffected by climate change or carbon emissions, and we must take the whole picture into account, when we consider the damage being done to our Mother Earth," the cardinal said. On Scotland's consumer culture, he added: "We take and use much more than our share, and we cannot maintain this any longer."
Hope was a common theme.
The Rev Alan McDonald, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: "In a world of darkness and despair, the message of Easter is a candle-light in the darkness, whispering softly that the love of God can never be extinguished."
The leader of England's Catholics, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, spoke out during his Easter address at Westminster, about fears that modern Britain's "now generation" culture left those in poverty and suffering devoid of hope.
An expectation of instant gratification threatened to marginalise the poor, he said.
The Archbishop of Canterbury urged all people to consider the Easter message of reconciliation and forgiveness as tools to resolve conflict.
Dr Rowan Williams said [that] the story of Easter should provide comfort and encouragement during times of conflict and suspicion.
Meanwhile, Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, used his sermon to call for the release of the Scottish journalist Alan Johnston, kidnapped in Gaza last month.
Dr Sentamu said [that] the BBC reporter, who was abducted by masked gunmen on 12 March, was not an "enemy" and should be freed immediately.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall - who was making her first public appearance since her hysterectomy - celebrated Easter at Crathie Kirk on Royal Deeside, ahead of their wedding anniversary today [Monday].
Amid a series of calls by Christian leaders for world peace in their Easter messages yesterday [Sunday], John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, called for the kidnappers of Alan Johnson, the BBC journalist captured in Gaza nearly a month ago, to release him immediately.
During his sermon at York Minster, the archbishop said: "In God's name, please release Alan Johnson. He is not your enemy, he is a symbol of ensuring that the freedom of the press is not violated - an issue that Palestinian journalists are too familiar with, facing routine attacks, harassment and arrest. Let the man free."
Dr Sentamu, who later baptised 20 adults by total immersion in a tank of water in York city centre, said [that] those who treated religion as an ideology to be studied were missing the point about faith: that Jesus Christ was a living reality. "He isn't only a figure in a book, the Bible, even if that book is the greatest in the world; he is a living presence. There are those who regard Jesus as the greatest man who ever lived, but who then died. That won't do. Jesus isn't dead - he is alive. He isn't merely a hero of the past, he is a living reality, the Lord of the present."
In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI gave his Easter message to the congregation in St Peter's Square in 62 languages. He gave a gloomy assessment of the Middle East crisis, saying: "Nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter, as the civilian population flees."
He also spoke of growing unrest and instability in Afghanistan, political paralysis in Lebanon and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, referring to Darfur as "a catastrophe and, sadly to say, underestimated humanitarian situation". He condemned terrorism and the use of religion to justify the "thousand faces of violence" and added: "Peace is sorely needed".
At Canterbury cathedral, Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, cited Northern Ireland as a place where reconciliation had made it possible to release the opposing sides from their thrall to the past. "Everyone in this history made decisions, some shockingly evil, some tragic, some foolish ... those decisions and the sufferings that came with them don't have the power to tell you what decisions [that] you have to make today.
"If we can accept the unwelcome picture of us and our world that Good Friday offers, we are in the strangest way set free to hear what Easter says. Give up the struggle to be innocent, and the hope that God will proclaim that you were right and everyone else wrong. Simply ask for whatever healing it is that you need, whatever grace and hope you need to be free, then step towards your neighbour.
"When in our world we are faced with the terrible deadlocks of mutual hatred and suspicion, with rival stories of suffering and atrocity, we have to pray for this resurrection message to be heard."
The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the conservative evangelical Bishop of Rochester, continued his contrarian stance by praising the Iranian president's better understanding of moral and spiritual values than the British government. He said [that] Mahmoud Ahmadinejad contrasted favourably with British "free-floating" attitudes.
He told the Sunday Times: "I saw on the one hand what Iran was doing and what the president said had much to do with the moral and spiritual tradition of that country ... what struck me was that if there were any values on the British side they were free-floating and not anchored in a spiritual and moral tradition.
"Unless we reroot ourselves ... we won't know what we stand for and will not be able to confront other people, countries and ideological movements who are very clear where they stand."
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1 comment:
The authoritative message :), funny...
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