Pope urges end to wars in Easter message
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis used strong language on Easter to call for peace in parts of the world torn by war and conflict, including Syria, the Israel-Gaza border and countries in Africa.
Amid heavy security, tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to celebrate Mass and to hear the pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” message (“to the city and the world.”)
Francis, 81, who two weeks ago celebrated his fifth anniversary as pope, used his homily to lament Friday’s deaths of 15 Palestinians in Gaza, where he said the violence is causing “wounds of conflict that do not spare the defenseless.”
He also called for an end to Syria’s civil war and urged the warring parties to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered there.
And he urged an end to the violence in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“This Easter, may the light of the risen Christ illuminate the consciences of all political and military leaders so a swift end can be brought to the carnage,” Francis said.
The pope recited the biblical parallel of the grain of wheat that must die in order to bear fruit as an example of focusing on the long term.
“It is the power of the grain of wheat, the power of that which humbles itself and gives of itself until the very end, and in that way renews the world,” Francis said.
Salvatore Cernuzio, a Vatican expert with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, said, “It’s notable that the pope used such strong language when talking about violence in the world.
“His papacy has never shied away from taking strong political stances, and he continued that” on Sunday.
Rome was on high alert in the days leading up to Easter, and police were stationed around the city. Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti warned Thursday that some of the tens of thousands of Islamic State militants on the run after defeats in Syria and Iraq could end up in Italy.
“It is a national security priority,” Minniti said.