Pope appeals to Russians over Ukraine and denounces violence in Middle East in Easter message

Pope Urges Russians to Seek Truth About Ukraine Invasion

Pope Francis called on Russians to seek the truth about their country’s invasion of Ukraine in his Easter message to the world and appealed for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians following recent violence.

The 86-year-old pontiff presided over a solemn Easter Mass in a sunny St. Peter’s Square after cold weather forced him to skip an outdoor service on Friday, a precaution following his hospitalization for bronchitis in late March.

A carpet of 38,000 flowers donated by the Netherlands adorned the square for the most important and joyous date in the Church’s liturgical calendar, which commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead. The honor units of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard and the Italian Carabinieri, both dressed in full dress, stood at attention.

But traditional pomp and sacred chants gave way to modern realities. Francis stepped onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his semi-annual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and blessing, addressing a crowd that the Vatican estimated at about 100,000 people.

There, from the same place where he first presented himself to the world as Pope on the night of his election in 2013, he spoke of “the darkness and darkness that so often hangs over the world,” and prayed to God for peace.

“Help the beloved Ukrainian people on the path to peace and instill Easter light upon the Russian people,” he said.

Francis Appeals for Dialogue Between Israelis and Palestinians Following Recent Violence

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, the Holy Father has at least twice a week referred to Ukraine and its people as “martyrs” and has used words such as aggression and atrocities to describe Russia’s actions.

On Sunday he asked God to comfort “the wounded and those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safely to their families. Open the hearts of the entire international community to strive to put an end to this war and to all the conflicts that are bloodying the world.”

As he does every Easter, the Supreme Pontiff appealed for peace in the Middle East, made more urgent by the recent violence in Jerusalem and the cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

“On this day we entrust to you, O Lord, the city of Jerusalem, the first witness of your Resurrection. I express my deep concern over the attacks of recent days, which threaten the desired climate of trust and mutual respect, necessary to resume dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and throughout the region,” he said.

Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have risen sharply since last week’s Israeli police raids on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, which caused outrage throughout the Arab world.

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Between the Mass and the reading of the message, Francis, who appeared in top form, was driven by popemobile around the square and the main boulevard leading to the Tiber River so that more people could see him.

In his message, Francis also mentioned the instability in Lebanon, expressed hope that “the martyred Rohinyá” of Myanmar “will find justice” and called for more aid for victims of February’s earthquakes that killed nearly 56,000 in Turkey and Syria.

In a part of the speech in which he mentioned Nicaragua, the Pope asked God, “remember all those who are prevented from freely and publicly professing their faith.”

Relations between the government and the Nicaraguan Catholic Church are very tense. The government, which has suspended diplomatic relations with the Vatican, banned outdoor Holy Week processions this year.

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