In Easter Message, Pope Backs Israel-Palestine Peace

Sends message to Italy earthquake survivors

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 12, 2009 6:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – In his Easter message, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Israel-Palestine peace efforts, acknowledged Italy’s earthquake survivors, and called for hope in trying times, Reuters reports. “At a time of world food shortage, of financial turmoil, of old and new forms of poverty...it is urgent to rediscover grounds for hope,” he told tens of thousands at a St. Peter’s Square Mass this morning.

“Reconciliation—difficult, but indispensable—is a precondition for a future of overall security and peaceful coexistence,” said the pope, who will travel to the Holy Land in May. “It can only be achieved through renewed, persevering and sincere efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” He called the resurrection a “cry of victory that unites us all today.”

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Pope Benedict XVI, left, acknowledges the faithful during the Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Benedict XVI said that reconciliation was the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and said the entire world needed to rediscover hope to end wars, poverty and financial turmoil. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges the faithful during the Easter Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) blessing in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, April 12. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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A news report on Pope Benedict's Easter address, which included special mention of the victims of the recent earthquake in central Italy. (newsstoryoftheday)

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In Easter Message, Pope Backs Israel-Palestine Peace