VATICAN CITY (CNS): Celebrating the first Holy Week and Easter of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI called on individuals and nations to turn away from their sins and accept the love, truth and peace offered by the crucified and risen Christ.
After presiding over Easter morning Mass in St Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict solemnly offered his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome and the world), and prayed for peace and justice in the most troubled areas of the world.
Easter Sunday was also the Pope’s 79th birthday.
During his midday Easter blessing, the Pope called for “serious and honest negotiations” to find an “honourable solution” to the stand-off between Iran and the international community over Iran’s nuclear program.
He also prayed that “in Iraq may peace finally prevail over the tragic violence that continues mercilessly to claim victims”.
The Pope called on the international community to come to the rescue of the people of Sudan’s Darfur region who continue to be under the threat of genocide and face terror and hunger.
He prayed for peace in the Holy Land and for “patient and persevering dialogue” between Israel and the Palestinian Government.
Pope Benedict said Christ’s resurrection from the dead fulfilled God’s promise to save his creatures from the power of sin and death.
