In his message “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) at the end of the Catholic Easter service, Pope Francis called on the faithful to follow the path of mutual solidarity, “which must also prevail in relations between nations, states and peoples.” “Christ is risen,” said the pope, and then added in Greek: “Christ is risen!”

At the same time, the pontiff asked to overcome armed conflicts and divisions, referring to the messages of hope coming from countries that offer help and support to people who have left wars and poverty behind.

The pontiff turned to the Lord with a request to “help the dear Ukrainian people on the path to peace and spread the Easter light throughout the Russian people.”

He also wished that the wounded and all families who lost loved ones due to the war received support, and that the prisoners of war could return home safe and sound.

Stop armed conflicts in Syria

At the same time, Francis in his message asked to stop the armed conflicts in Syria, to provide support to the victims of the devastating earthquake that occurred in Turkey and in Syria itself, and also expressed concern about the shelling of the past few days in the Middle East, “which endanger the necessary climate of trust so that dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians can resume.”

Finally, the pontiff, who greeted the cardinals seated in a wheelchair and then toured the square in the “daddy mobile”, wished that the political situation in Lebanon would stabilize, that young people who aspire to a better future in Tunisia and overcome in Haiti the social, political and humanitarian crisis that has plagued the country for many years.