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Pope Francis uses Easter message to focus on Kenya, Syria and Iraq Pope Francis uses Easter message to focus on Kenya, Syria and Iraq
(about 5 hours later)
Pope Francis used his Easter message on Sunday to pray for the nearly 150 victims of the Kenya university massacre, while also highlighting the suffering of people across the Middle East and elsewhere. Pope Francis used his Easter message on Sunday to pray for the nearly 150 victims of the Kenya university massacre, and highlight the suffering of people across the Middle East and elsewhere.
“May constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives – I think in particular of the young people who were killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya,” the pontiff told crowds of believers cowering under umbrellas amid heavy rain in St Peter’s Square. “May constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives. I think in particular of the young people who were killed last Thursday at Garissa University college in Kenya,” the pontiff told crowds of believers cowering under umbrellas to protect themselves from heavy rain in St Peter’s Square.
The pope’s comments came after Islamist militants stormed the Kenyan university on Thursday, killing 148 people. While the al-Shabaab gunmen initially killed students indiscriminately, survivors said Christians were later identified and shot. The pope’s comments came after al-Shabaab militants stormed the Kenyan university, killing 148 people. The gunmen initially killed students indiscriminately, but survivors said Christians were later identified and shot.
The pope put persecuted Christian minorities and those suffering from conflicts at the centre of his Easter address in Rome, known as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) address, with particular emphasis on the Middle East. The pope put persecuted Christian minorities and those suffering from conflicts at the centre of his Easter address, known as the Urbi et Orbi, or address to the city and the world, with particular emphasis on the Middle East.
“We ask for peace, above all, for Syria and Iraq: that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved countries,” he said. “We ask for peace, above all, for Syria and Iraq, that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved countries,” he said.
The Argentinian pontiff called on the international community to “not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries”, drawing on the plight of refugees who have fled the violence.The Argentinian pontiff called on the international community to “not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries”, drawing on the plight of refugees who have fled the violence.
The pope’s words mirrored his Christmas address last year, in which he prayed for refugees “suffering a brutal persecution” in Iraq and Syria, as Islamic State (Isis) militants take over swathes of territory in the two countries. The pope’s words mirrored his Christmas address last year, in which he prayed for refugees “suffering a brutal persecution” in Iraq and Syria, as Islamic State militants took over swaths of territory in the two countries.
Related: Pope Francis prays for victims of Islamic State in Christmas addressRelated: Pope Francis prays for victims of Islamic State in Christmas address
In a further sign of the importance of the two countries to the pope, last month he met the brother of David Haines, a British aid worker who was beheaded by Isis in Syria last year. Mike Haines was accompanied by Barbara Henning, whose British husband Alan Henning was also killed by the group, and Shahnawaz Haque, an imam in London. In a further sign of the importance of the two countries to the pope, last month he met the brother of David Haines, a British aid worker who was beheaded by Isis in Syria last year. Mike Haines was accompanied by Barbara Henning, whose British husband Alan was also killed by the group, and Shahnawaz Haque, an imam in London.
But on Sunday Francis went beyond Syria and Iraq, referring also to the worsening situation in Libya. As rival militias vie for power, the pope spoke of his hopes “that the present absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence may cease”. On Sunday Francis went beyond Syria and Iraq, referring also to the worsening situation in Libya. As rival militias vie for power, the pope spoke of his hopes “that the present absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence may cease”.
With Saudi Arabian airstrikes continuing to target Houthi rebels in Yemen, the pontiff expressed his “hope for the growth of a common desire for peace, for the good of the entire people”. Turning his attention to the Palestinian territories and Israel, he called for “the peace process [to] be resumed, in order to end years of suffering and division”.With Saudi Arabian airstrikes continuing to target Houthi rebels in Yemen, the pontiff expressed his “hope for the growth of a common desire for peace, for the good of the entire people”. Turning his attention to the Palestinian territories and Israel, he called for “the peace process [to] be resumed, in order to end years of suffering and division”.
Amid the world’s woes, the pope found a moment in his Easter message to celebrate the Iran nuclear deal signed last week. The deal forged in Lausanne could be “a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world,” Francis said. Amid the world’s woes, the pope found a moment in his Easter message to celebrate the Iran nuclear deal signed last week. The deal forged in Lausanne could be “a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world”, Francis said.
The pope also focused on violence in Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While the conflict in “beloved Ukraine” was also mentioned, the emphasis lay beyond Europe’s borders and continued the global message that has marked Francis’s papacy. The pope also focused on violence in Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The conflict in “beloved Ukraine” was also mentioned, but the emphasis lay beyond Europe’s borders and continued the global message that has marked Francis’s papacy.
The pope’s speech was preceded by a multilingual mass, which included prayers in Arabic and Chinese, attended by thousands of followers.The pope’s speech was preceded by a multilingual mass, which included prayers in Arabic and Chinese, attended by thousands of followers.