In his Easter message on Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI decried suffering in the world, lamenting the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and expressing worry over unrest and instability in Afghanistan.
Delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the pontiff noted "how many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world."
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."
According to AP, the pope 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.
Meanwhile, the leader of the world's Anglicans highlighted progress in the Northern Ireland peace process as an example of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation as he delivered his Easter sermon.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams told the congregation Sunday at Canterbury Cathedral that both concepts were central to the Christian holiday's message and could be applied to resolve conflicts around the world.
"Step towards your neighbour," he urged, according to AFP.
"When in our world we are faced with the terrible deadlocks of mutual hatred and suspicion, with rival stories of suffering and atrocity, we have to pray for this resurrection message to be heard," the archbishop added.
This year, the calendars of five major Christian faiths coincide with one another, something that happens only once every four years. Easter this year also falls during the weeklong Jewish festival of Passover, which brings thousands of Jews into the cramped Old City to worship at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site.
