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Pope: "nothing positive"
is happening in Iraq
AP
Sunday April 8, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI decried suffering in much of the world in his
Easter message, lamenting that "nothing positive" is happening
in Iraq and voicing worry over unrest and instability in Afghanistan
and bloodshed in parts of Africa and Asia.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world,"
the pontiff said, delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi"
Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica
as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists listened in the square.
Benedict read out a litany of troubling current events, saying
he was thinking of the "terrorism and kidnapping of people,
of the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify
in the name of religion, of contempt for life, of the violation
of human rights and the exploitation of persons."
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability,"
Benedict said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope
in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, nothing
positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the
civil population flees."
He singled out what he called the "catastrophic, and sad to
say, underestimated, humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well
as other African places of suffering, including violence and looting
in Congo, fighting in Somalia -- which, he said, drove away the
prospect of peace -- and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe,
marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe
corruption.
Benedict said only a negotiated solution could end the drawn-out,
bloody conflict in Sri Lanka, and said East Timor needs reconciliation
ahead of elections.
Earlier he celebrated Easter Sunday Mass on the flower-adorned
steps of St. Peter's Basilica.
The voices of choir boys rang across the square. Wearing gold-colored
vestments, the pope gripped a slender, silver crucifix as clerics
sprinkled incense across the steps. The altar area was ablaze with
color -- red tulips, orange tiger lilies and yellow broom plants
were among the flowers delivered from the Netherlands -- and at
the end of the service the pope thanked the Dutch for the gift.
Benedict ended his appearance by giving Easter greetings in dozens
of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and giving the crowd
his apostolic blessing.
The Vatican said that TV outlets in 67 countries had arranged satellite
links for the Easter service.
The boulevard leading from the Tiber River to the square was filled
with languages as tourists, toting backpacks and wearing hats against
the sunshine, headed toward the Mass site.
After Sunday's events, Benedict heads to the papal summer residence
at Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban Hills south of Rome, for a few
days of rest.
When he returns to Rome, Benedict has two important dates on his
calendar: his 80th birthday on April 16, and the second anniversary
of his election as pope three days later.
INFOWARS:
BECAUSE THERE'S A WAR ON FOR YOUR MIND
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