Pope appeals for peace in Easter Sunday address

Against the background of a sunny blue sky and in a St Peter's Square decked out with thousands of blooming flowers, Pope Francis this morning used his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (To The City and To The World) address to appeal for world peace and to defend the poor and the suffering.

Speaking to a 150,000 strong crowd from the central "loggia" or balcony of St Peter's, a sombre, serious Francis dispensed with the tradition of the multi-lingual address so as to concentrate on his central message. Having said that Easter Sunday represents "the Good News par excellence" of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Francis called on the "risen Lord", saying:

“Help us to overcome the scourge of hunger, aggravated by conflicts and by the immense wastefulness for which we are often responsible. Enable us to protect the vulnerable, especially children, women and the elderly, who are at times exploited and abandoned.

"Enable us to care for our brothers and sisters struck by the Ebola epidemic in Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and to care for those suffering from so many other diseases which are also spread through neglect and dire poverty."

He also made yet another appeal for peace in many different parts of the world including the Middle East, Iraq, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Venezuela.

The Pope laid especial emphasis on the ongoing civil war in Syria, saying:

“We pray in a particular way for Syria, our beloved Syria, that all those suffering the effects of the conflict can receive badly needed humanitarian aid and that neither side will again use deadly force, especially against the defenseless civil population, but instead boldly negotiate the peace long awaited and long overdue.”

The Pope also appealed for migrants, saying:

“Comfort those who have left their own lands to migrate to places offering hope for a better future and the possibility of living their lives in dignity and, not infrequently, of freely professing their faith.”

Finally, pointing out that this year the Catholic Church unusually celebrates Easter on the same day as the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Pope appealed for a resolution to the tensions in Ukraine, saying:

“By your resurrection…we ask you to enlighten and inspire the initiatives that promote peace in Ukraine so that all those involved, with the support of the international community, will make every effort to prevent violence and, in a spirit of unity and dialogue, chart a path for the country’s future.”

The Urbi et Orbi address followed on Easter Sunday mass and comes at the end of four days of Easter celebrations for the Pope. The pontiff won't be able to take much rest since this week will be much concerned with the canonizations next Sunday of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, an event expected to attract up to two million visitors and pilgrims to Rome.