Pope Worried About Bloodshed In Nigeria, Iraq, Others

*Celebrates Easter Mass in the rain

In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis yesterday praised the framework
nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer.
He expressed deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq,
Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.

Cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, a
kind of papal commentary on the state of the world's affairs, which he
delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square.

He had just celebrated Mass in rain-whipped St. Peter's Square for
tens of thousands of people, who huddled under umbrellas or braved the
downpour in thin, plastic rain-slickers.

Easter Day is "so beautiful, and so ugly because of the rain," Francis
said after Mass about Christianity's most important feast day. He
expressed thanks for the flowers which bedecked the square and which
were donated by the Netherlands, but the bright hues of the azaleas
and other blossoms seemed muted by the gray skies.

Francis made his first public comments about the recent framework for
an accord, reached in Lausanne, Switzerland, and aimed at ensuring
Iran doesn't develop a nuclear weapon.

"In hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed
to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure
and fraternal world."

Decrying the plentitude of weapons in the world in general, Pope
Francis said: "And we ask for peace for this world subjected to arms
dealers, who earn their living with the blood of men and women."

He denounced "absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence" in
Libya, convulsed by fighting fueled by tribal and militia rivalries.
He hoped "a common desire for peace" would prevail in Yemen, wracked
by civil warfare.

Pope Francis prayed that the "roar of arms may cease" in Syria and
Iraq, and that peace would come in Africa for Nigeria, South Sudan,
Sudan and Congo.

He recalled the young people, many of them targeted because they were
Christians, killed last week in a Kenyan university, and lamented
kidnappings, by Islamic extremists, that have plagued parts of Africa,
including Nigeria.

He also cited bloodshed closer to home, in Ukraine, praying that the
Eastern European nation would "rediscover peace and hope thanks to the
commitment of all interested parties." Government forces have been
battling Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, months after a
cease-fire was proclaimed following international diplomatic efforts.

On Good Friday, Pope Francis chastised the international community for
what he called the complicit silence about the killing of Christians.
On Easter he prayed that God would alleviate "the suffering of so many
of our brothers persecuted because of his name."