Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 12, 2009

Pope Leads Catholics Into Easter
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2386ADA:A6F02AD83191E160D6095F8780881DC15C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
Pope Benedict focuses on Africa, which he recently visited, and the
Middle East, to which he will soon travel, in his traditional Easter
message 
Pope Benedict has celebrated Easter Sunday Mass in a packed Saint
Peter's square. Tens of thousands of people joined him to commemorate
what Christians believe was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In his
Easter message, the Pope turned his thoughts to Africa and the Middle
East. Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during the Easter in St.
Peter's Square, Vatican, 12 Apr 2009Colorful spring flowers decorated
Saint Peter's Square for the Pope's
Easter Sunday Mass. Today is the most joyous day in the Christian
calendar and tens of thousands turned out to commemorate what they
believe was Jesus Christ's resurrection. Wearing golden
vestments, the pope's procession wound its way into the square. Pope
Benedict blessed the crowd as a choir sang hymns. At
the start of the mass, the pope implored the congregation to "let the
Easter light of the risen Christ enlighten our minds and our hearts."
He also told the faithful that Christ's resurrection was a "cry of
victory that unites us all today." The pope said Christ is the hope and
true peace of the world. In his traditional Easter message to
the city of Rome and to the world, the pope focused on Africa, which he
recently visited, and the Middle East, to which he will soon travel.
Benedict
said Africa suffers disproportionately from cruel and unending
conflicts that cause much bloodshed and destruction. He said the
continent also suffers from the growing number of people who fall prey
to hunger poverty and disease. Turning his thoughts to the
Holy Land, the pope urged reconciliation, which he said could only be
achieved through renewed, persevering and sincere efforts to resolve
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Pope also said that "at a
time of world food shortage, of financial turmoil, of old and new forms
of poverty, of violence and deprivation… of growing fears over the
future, it is urgent to rediscover grounds for hope".Pope Benedict then
delivered Easter greetings in 63 different languages. 


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