The pope condemned the attacks in Sri Lanka and called on Venezuela to take concrete measures

ROME.- In his paschal message and his blessing "urbi et orbi" to the city and to the world, the pope deplored today the terrible attacks
They left at least 140 dead in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka and called for peace in the world. He again referred to Venezuela in particular, calling on political leaders to "put an end to social injustice, abuse and violence" and to take "concrete measures to remedy the divisions and give the people the opportunity to The help it needs "- in Nicaragua, Syria and the Middle East, among several other regions of the world affected by conflict.

"I have sadly received the news of the grave attacks that, even today, on Easter Day, have caused grief and grief in some churches and other places of Sri Lanka. I wish to express my affectionate closeness to the Christian community, attacked during its collection, in prayer and to all the victims of such cruel violence, I entrust to the Lord those who have tragically disappeared and I pray for the wounded and all those who suffer for this dramatic event, "said Francisco with a stern face, speaking in front of 70,000 people from the balcony in the center of the basilica of San Pedro at noon Roman (7 from Argentina) after having celebrated before thousands of faithful around the world the solemn Easter Mbad. For the occasion, San Pedro Square was decorated with more than 55,000 beautiful flowers and plants from Holland and Slovenia, which the Pope publicly thanked.

On a cloudy and gray day, after wishing everyone happy Easter and evoking the opening words of his recent Apostolic Exhortation especially for young people, "Christ lives", the pope has, as tradition has it, done conflicts of the world. Not to mention Sri Lanka, which was forced to add in the end, because of the bloody attacks, he mentioned 18 countries. The first was Syria, a country torn apart by conflict that erupted eight years ago – March 15, 2011 – "and threatens to bring us to resignation and even indifference," he said. declared. "It is time to renew the commitment to a political solution that responds to the just aspirations of freedom, peace and justice, attacks the humanitarian crisis and promotes safe return." displaced persons, as well as those who: have taken refuge in neighboring countries, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan, "he said.

He spoke after a Middle East "torn by continual divisions and tensions", where Christians testify and children exhausted by hunger and war in Yemen. "May the light of Easter illuminate all the leaders and peoples of the Middle East, beginning with the Israelis and Palestinians, and encourage them to alleviate so much suffering and to seek a future of peace and stability," he said. he urged.

He then called for dialogue for Libya, a country where blood and peace have recovered in recent weeks for "the beloved African continent, always fraught with social tensions, conflict and sometimes violent extremism. leaving room for insecurity, destruction and in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. "Francisco also mentioned Sudan, which is going through a period of political uncertainty, and South Sudan , whose leaders recently gathered at a spiritual retreat at the Vatican, he said. After talking about residents of the eastern regions of Ukraine, who are still suffering from the ongoing conflict, Francisco mentioned his continent. "May the joy of resurrection fill the hearts of all those in the Americas who are suffering the consequences of difficult political and economic situations," he said. "I am thinking in particular of the Venezuelan people: many people do not have the minimum conditions to lead a dignified and safe life, because of a crisis that continues and worsens," he said. declared. "That the Lord grant those who have political responsibility to work to put an end to social injustice, abuse and violence, and to take concrete measures to remedy the divisions and give the people the opportunity to do so. help she needs, "he added. , without naming it, to the confrontation between the regime of Nicolás Maduro and the leader of the opposition and president "in charge", Juan Guaidó.

As he had also done in the last Christmas message, he also encouraged efforts to find as soon as possible a peaceful and negotiated solution in Nicaragua.

Francisco – who was alive for the crowd when he walked once on the square, in a pop-mobile street to greet everyone – put an end to his Easter message claiming "in the face of the many sufferings of our time, the Lord of life does not find us cold and indifferent. "" That he makes us builders of bridges and not walls, that He gives us his peace, put an end to the roar of arms, both in the war zones only in our cities, and forces the leaders of nations to work to end the arms race and the worrying proliferation of arms, especially in the most economically advanced countries, "he said. "May the Risen One, who has opened the doors of the sepulcher, open our hearts to the needs of the needy, the defenseless, the poor, the unemployed, the marginalized, those who knock on our door in search of bread, a refuge or the recognition of their dignity, "he concluded.