VATICAN CITY -- Celebrating Easter Sunday,
Christianity's most joyous and hopeful day, Pope Francis prayed for peace in
Ukraine and Syria and for an end to the terrorist attacks in Nigeria that have
targeted many Christians.
So great
were their numbers of tourists -- Romans and pilgrims, young and old -- turned
out for the Mass that Francis celebrated at an altar set up under a canopy on
the steps of St. Peter's Basilica.
Argentina as
well as from Brazil, Mexico , Britain, Poland and many other countries, they also filled
the broad boulevard leading from the square to the Tiber River.
Dawn brought
clear skies and warm temperatures for Easter, the culmination of Holy Week, the
day which marks the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his
crucifixion.
Francis
noted that this year the Catholic church's celebration of Easter coincided with
that of Orthodox churches, which have many followers in Ukraine. Some of the
hymns at the Vatican Mass on Sunday were in Russian.
In prayer,
he said, "we ask you to enlighten and inspire the initiatives that promote
peace in Ukraine, so that all those involved, with the support of the
international community, will make every effort to prevent violence" and over
the tensions between pro-Russian supporters in Ukraine and those loyal to the
interim government in Kiev have sparked bloodshed in recent days.
Francis also
prayed that all sides in Syria will be moved to "boldly negotiate the
peace long awaited and long overdue." Since March 2011, Syria has been
wracked by a civil war that has cost 150,000 lives and forced millions to flee
the country.
He also
recalled those suffering in Africa from an epidemic of deadly Ebola and urged a
halt to "brutal terrorist attacks" in parts of Nigeria
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