Pope Benedict invokes peace in Iraq, Middle East, Africa

By Nicholas Rigillo Apr 16, 2006, 15:17 GMT

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday called for peace in Iraq, the Holy Land and Africa and urged world leaders to work towards 'peaceful coexistence' so as to 'remove the threat of terrorism' after celebrating his first Easter Mass as pontiff in Rome's St. Peter's Square.

Addressing some 80,000 faithful gathered below the basilica's central balcony overlooking the famous piazza, Benedict called for 'relief and security' to Darfur and other parts of Africa torn by civil strife.

'In Iraq, may peace finally prevail over the tragic violence that continues mercilessly to claim victims,' Benedict said amid chants of 'be-ne-de-tto' rising from the crowd below.

The German-born pontiff, who had earlier celebrated an Easter Mass in the same square, also used his traditional Urbi et Orbi 'to the city and the world' message to address the nuclear stand-off in Iran by calling for an 'honourable solution for all' to the crisis.

On the crisis facing the Middle East, Benedict invoked 'Israel's just right to exist in peace' and called on the Palestinian people 'to overcome the precarious conditions in which they live and to build their future, moving towards the constitution of a state that is truly their own.'

He then urged world leaders to strengthen efforts aimed at achieving 'peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions, in order to remove the threat of terrorism.'

The pope went on to impart his traditional Easter Day blessing, in more than 60 languages, including Chinese, Hebrew and Arabic.

In his address in Italian, he referred to the deep divisions that have emerged from last week's contested general election by calling for 'harmony' for the good of all.

It was Benedict's first Easter since his election as pontiff one year ago, with Sunday's celebrations also coinciding with his 79th birthday.

Benedict has been presiding over taxing Easter celebrations over the past week. Easter is the most holy period of the year for Catholics, who recall Jesus Christ's death by crucifixion and resurrection.

Late Saturday he presided over an Easter vigil inside St Peter's Basilica while tens of thousands of people accompanied him during Good Friday's Via Crucis procession near the illuminated Coliseum.

Besides the traditional prayers, the ceremony included meditations composed by Vicar General for Rome and Archbishop Angelo Comastri, which deplored poverty and hunger as well as the decline of family values across the world.

At the end of Friday's procession, Benedict reminded the congregation of the memory of his predecessor, John Paul II, who had been unable to celebrate Easter last year as he was approaching his death, which fell on April 2, 2005.