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In Easter message, Pope Benedict
calls for solutions to nuclear crises
v
Frances DEtnilio
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VATICAN CITY — In his
first Easter message as
pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI
on Sunday urged nations
to use diplomacy to defuse
nuclear crises — a clear
reference to worries over
Iran — and prayed that
Palestinians would one
day have their own state
alongside Israel.
On Christianity’s most
joyous day — which
happened to fall on
Benedict’s own 79th
birthday — the pontiff also
prayed for Iraq’s relentless
violence to cease.
From the central balcony
of St. Peter’s Basilica,
Benedict reflected on the
globe’s troubled regions
shortly alter he celebrated
Easter Mass in St. Peter’s
Square, which was packed
with 100,000 pilgrims and
tourists on a breezy, hazy
day.
“Today, even in this
modern age marked by
anxiety and uncertainty,
we relive the event of
the Resurrection, which
changed the face of our life
and changed the history of
humanity,” Benedict said in
the traditional papal “Urbi
et Orbi” message — Latin
for “to the city and to the
world.”
On Easter, Christians
celebrate a core belief of
their faith — that Jesus rose
from the dead following his
crucifixion.
Orthodox Christians in
Russia and elsewhere will
celebrate Easter on April
23.
Benedict made note of
recent developments that
have raised fears Iran might
be working toward building
a nuclear arsenal.
“Concerning the
international crises linked
to nuclear power, may
an honorable solution
be found for all parties,
through serious and honest
negotiations,” Benedict
said without naming any
country.
Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadiriejad
recently said his country
had successfully enriched
uranium using 164
centrifuges, a significant
step toward large-scale
production of material
that could be used to
fuel nuclear reactors for
generating electricity or to
build atomic bombs.
Iran insists it only wants
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power, but Western nations
suspect Tehran wants
to develop weapons and
are demanding a halt to
enrichment activities.
Pilgrims marking Easter
also filled the streets of
Jerusalem’s Old City.
The alleys were more
crowded than in recent
years, reflecting a drop in
Palestinian-Israeli violence.
The Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah,
who is the leading Roman
Catholic official in the
Holy Land, celebrated
Mass in the dark, incense
filled Church of the Holy
Sepulcher, built on the
spot where many Christians
believe that Jesus died on
the cross.
After leading black-robed
priests into the church
singing the Lord’s Prayer,
the Palestinian-born
patriarch lit worshippers’
candles, which gradually
illuminated the painted
dome ceiling erected in the
Crusader era.
“This is like a dream
come true for us to be
here in the Holy Land,”
said Rona Arida, 29, a
Philippine worker in Israel,
after praying with her
friends at the church. “I
prayed for all of my family
back home.”
In Washington, the Rev.
Franklin Graham, the son
of minister Billy Graham,
tied the sacrifice of Jesus
to the sacrifice made by
military personnel in an
Easter sunrise service at
Walter Reed Army Medical
Center.
1 he greatest battle we
face in this world is the
battle for the souls of men
and women,” Graham told
about 400 people gathered,
including about a half
dozen wounded soldiers.
At the Vatican, Benedict
was interrupted by applause
when he said of Iraq: “may
peace finally prevail over
the tragic violence that
continues mercilessly to
claim victims.”
“I also pray sincerely
that those caught up in
the conflict in the Holy
Land may find peace, and
I invite all to patient and
persevering dialogue, so as
to remove both ancient and
new obstacles,” the pontiff
said.
There has been heavy
pressure from abroad on
the Hamas-led Palestinian
government to renounce
violence and recognize
Israel’s right to exist.
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