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Skriven 2006-04-20 09:48:00 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

EASTER SUNDAY: RISEN CHRIST QUENCHES THIRST FOR PEACE

VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2006 (VIS) - Benedict XVI celebrated the Easter Mass of
the Resurrection of the Lord at 10.30 this morning in St. Peter's Square, which
was decorated, as has become traditional, with flowers, shrubs and flowering
plants from Holland. At midday, from the central loggia of the basilica, he
pronounced his first Easter Message, expressed Easter greetings in 63 languages
and imparted his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

On the day of his own 79th birthday and three days before the first anniversary
of his election as Pope, the Holy Father said: "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. From
the risen Christ, all those who are still oppressed by chains of suffering and
death look for hope, sometimes even without knowing it.

"May the Spirit of the Risen One, in particular, bring relief and security in
Africa to the peoples of Darfur, who are living in a dramatic humanitarian
situation that is no longer sustainable; to those of the Great Lakes region,
where many wounds have yet to be healed; to the peoples of the Horn of Africa,
of the Ivory Coast, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other nations which aspire to
reconciliation, justice and progress."

Turning to the situation in Iraq, he expressed the hope that peace may "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." In this context, he called on the
international community, "which re-affirms Israel's just right to exist in
peace," to "assist 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."

"May the Spirit of the Risen One enkindle a renewed enthusiastic commitment of
the countries of Latin America," he went on, "so that the living conditions of
millions of citizens may be improved, the deplorable scourge of kidnapping may
be eradicated and democratic institutions may be consolidated in a spirit of
harmony and effective solidarity.

"Concerning the international crises linked to nuclear power, may an honorable
solution be found for all parties, through serious and honest negotiations, and
may the leaders of nations and of international organizations be strengthened
in their will to achieve peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures
and religions, in order to remove the threat of terrorism."

The Holy Father concluded by calling on humankind in the third millennium not
to be afraid, but to open their hearts to the Risen Christ. "His Gospel totally
quenches the thirst for peace and happiness that is found in every human heart.
Christ is now alive and He walks with us. What an immense mystery of love!
'Christus resurrexit, quia Deus caritas est! Alleluia!'."
BXVI-HOLY WEEK/EASTER SUNDAY/... VIS 060420 (520)

SUMMARY

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