The pope’s annual address came after a searing week for Catholics that included the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
By Chico Harlan Chico Harlan Rome bureau chief covering southern Europe and sometimes parts beyond Email Bio Follow April 21 at 7:40 AM ROME — Pope Francis during his address on Easter Sunday described coordinated attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka as “horrendous” and expressed “heartfelt closeness to the Christian community, attacked while gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such a cruel act of violence.
Francis’s comments on Sri Lanka, delivered to an estimated 70,000 worshipers, were tacked on moments after the conclusion of a pre-written speech in which he prayed for healing and renewal. The pontiff prayed that a holiday celebrating Jesus’ resurrection could spark humanity to open its hearts to the vulnerable — including “all those who knock at our door in search of bread, refuge and the recognition of their dignity,” Francis said.Francis mentioned the danger of becoming indifferent to long-simmering conflicts, including in Syria, where, he said, “we risk becoming ever more resigned.
“I urge the parties involved to choose dialogue over force and to avoid reopening wounds left by a decade of conflicts and political instability,” Francis said.
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