Pope appeals for end to Korea tensions in
first Easter message
Pope
Francis, appearing before more than 250,000 people for his first Easter Sunday
address, called for world peace, respect for the environment and a diplomatic
solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.
In
his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, he also
appealed for a resumption of peace negotiations between Israelis and
Palestinians, an end to the civil war in Syria and political solutions to
conflicts in several African countries.
The
former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina,
who has made defense of nature an early hallmark of his pontificate, also
condemned the "iniquitous exploitation of natural resources" and
urged everyone to be "guardians" of creation.
Francis
delivered his message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica - the
same spot from where he first appeared to the world as pope after his election
on March 13 - to a crowd estimated by the Vatican at more than 250,000.
"Peace
in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a
renewed spirit of reconciliation grow," he said, speaking in Italian.
North Korea said on Saturday it was
entering a "state of war" with South Korea. Tensions have been high since
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a third nuclear weapons test in
February, breaching U.N. sanctions and ignoring warnings from North Korea's
sole major ally, China,
not to do so.
People
thronged the open jeep that carried Pope Francis around at the end of a Mass.
He stopped to accept a jersey with his "Bergoglio" name on it from
fans of an Argentine football club and to comfort a handicapped man.
Francis,
who has brought a more simple and personal style to the papacy, said the
message of Easter is that faith can help people transform their lives by
letting "those desert places in our hearts bloom".
GUARDIANS
OF CREATION
"How
many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross?! Above all, the desert
within, when we have no love for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that
we are guardians of all that the creator has given us and continues to give
us," he said.
Earlier,
at a Mass in a square bedecked by more than 40,000 plants and flowers, he wore
relatively simple white vestments, as opposed to his predecessor Benedict, who
preferred elaborate robes.
The
huge crowd spilled out of St. Peter's Square and into surrounding streets. They
included many who had come to see a pope counted on to rehabilitate a Church
marred by scandals to do with sexual abuse of children and allegations of
corruption.
"It's
a new pope and new beginning," said Tina Hughes, 67, who came to Rome with
her family from Nottingham, England to see the pope. "I think he brings
something special. He connects with people. I feel good about him."
Francis,
who took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is revered as a symbol
of austerity and the importance of respecting nature, said the world was
"divided by greed looking for easy gain". He condemned human
trafficking and violence linked to drug trafficking.
Easter
Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead three
days after his crucifixion, was the culmination of four hectic days of activity
for the pope, during which he instituted several novelties.
On
Holy Thursday, two women were included among the 12 people whose feet he washed
and kissed during a traditional ceremony that had previously been open only to
men.
Francis
again showed on Sunday that he would carry out his papal duties his own way.
The Vatican had prepared a list of brief Easter greetings for him in 65
languages - identical to those read by his predecessors - but he decided not
read them, and spoke only in Italian.
Instead
of moving into regal papal apartments, he is still living in the Vatican
guesthouse where he stayed during the conclave that elected him as the first
non-European pope in 1,300 years.
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