During his “Urbi et Orbi” speech on Eastern Sunday, Pope Francis called for peace in Syria, Korea, Iraq, Israel, and Palestine, while condemning drug and human trafficking.
“Peace in the whole world, still divided by greed of those who look for an easy gain, wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family, selfishness that continues in human trafficking, which is the most extensive form of slavery in this twenty-first century,” he said, according to the Rome Reports website.
The pontiff spoke in front of a crowd of 250,000 people from around the world in the Vatican.
Regarding Syria, he said, he hoped “for its people torn by conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort,” according to AFP. “How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be found?” he asked.
“On the Korean peninsula, may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow,” he said, following North Korea’s recent, violent threats against South Korea and the United States.
He also made reference to the situation in Nigeria, where a French family from Cameroon is being held by apparent members of the extremist group Boko Haram.
Typically, after the busy Easter week ceremonies, the pope would go to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo for a few days of vacation. Francis can’t do that since the previous pope, Benedict XVI, is currently living there in retirement.
The Vatican has said Francis would stay put in the Vatican.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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