Pope Francis used strong language on Easter Sunday to call for peace in parts of the world torn by war and conflict, including Syria, the Israel-Gaza border and countries in Africa.
Amid heavy security, tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to celebrate Mass and to hear the pope's "Urbi et Orbi" message ("to the city and the world").
Francis, 81, who two weeks ago celebrated his fifth anniversary as pope, used his homily to lament Friday's deaths of 15 Palestinians in Gaza, where he said the violence is causing “wounds of conflict that do not spare the defenseless.”
He also called for an end to Syria's civil war and urged the warring parties to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered there. And he urged an end to the violence in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“This Easter, may the light of the risen Christ illuminate the consciences of all political and military leaders so a swift end can be brought to the carnage,” Francis said.
The pope recited the biblical parable of the grain of wheat that must die in order to bear fruit as an example of focusing on the long term. “It is the power of the grain of wheat, the power of that which humbles itself and gives of itself until the very end, and in that way renews the world,” Francis said.
Salvatore Cernuzio, a Vatican expert with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, said, “It’s notable that the pope used such strong language when talking about violence in the world. His papacy has never shied away from taking strong political stances, and he continued that” on Sunday.
Rome was on high alert in the days leading up to Easter, and police were stationed around the city. Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti warned Thursday that some of the tens of thousands of Islamic State militants on the run after defeats in Syria and Iraq could end up in Italy.
“It is a national security priority,” Minniti said.
Security here was the tightest on record, Italian newspapers reported.
People had to go through two security checks to enter St. Peter's Square. Traffic was stopped for several blocks in all directions, and armed security was visible on surrounding streets and nearby rooftops.
“For every security measure that is visible, you can be sure there are 10 we do not know about,” said Massimo Blanco, a criminology and security expert at Rome’s La Sapienza University. “The security of the pope or of any place where large crowds are gathered is something Italy takes very seriously.”
After the Easter Mass, Francis gave his blessing from a balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, closing with a plea: “Please don’t forget to pray for me.”
The faithful in the square had mixed views after the pope's remarks about war and conflicts.
“I see the pope as a kind of moral compass for Christians, and I think it is his duty to cast a certain light on problems that religious people should be more aware of,” said Matthew Reynolds, 27, a philosophy and theology graduate student from Detroit studying in Rome.
Meaghan Ellis-Nowicki, 40, a Massachusetts high school administrator, agreed.
“If the pope says he is outraged, then maybe it should mean something to us,” said Ellis-Nowicki, who is on vacation in Rome with her parents.
Some Italians in the crowd were less convinced by the pope’s remarks about global events.
“I agree there is tragedy in the world, but I also think the pope should focus on being a spiritual leader and leave politics to others,” said Leo Rosiello, 68, a church volunteer and retired municipal bus driver.
Anna Maria Alfonso, 49, a hospital worker, said she would have liked the pope to address problems within the church as well as secular, global topics.
“We have a church splitting between conservative and progressive, we have problem of sex scandals,” Alfonso said. “Pope Francis is a holy man, and I think I agree with his vision of the world. But he probably focuses too much on things he cannot control directly and too little on areas where he can have an immediate impact.”
