Published: 04:15 EST, 27 March 2016 | Updated: 12:28 EST, 27 March 2016
Pope Francis urged the world to use ‘weapons of love’ to combat the ‘brutal violence’ of terrorism as he delivered his Easter Sunday message. Addressing millions of Catholics across the world, the Pope remembered the 31 victims of the Brussels atrocities, as well as those who have lost their lives in terror attacks in Turkey, Nigeria, Chad and Iraq. He also used the message to remind Europe to ‘not forget… migrants and refugees fleeing from war, hunger and poverty’ and to call for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. After the homily, the Pope greeted thousands of worshippers from his ‘Popemobile’.
Some 35,000 pilgrims flocked to the Vatican to celebrate Mass, although photographs appear to show a smaller crowd than in previous years. Visitors faced tight security checks on their way in to St Peter’s Square, with police officers carrying out bag and body searches at a number of check points. Security sources said police reinforcements had arrived in Rome from other Italian cities ahead of the event. It comes amid claims the terrorists responsible for the Brussels bombings, which killed at least 31 people, had originally planned to strike religious services over Easter weekend. One security source told the Sunday Express the Vatican might have been the intended target.
Islamic State militants have previously made a number of threats against Catholic targets in Rome. Last year, a website used by militants ran a photo montage showing the movement’s black flag flying from the obelisk at the centre of St Peter’s Square.
In the bi-annual ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (to the city and the world) message, he spoke of violence, injustice and threats to peace in many parts of the world. Speaking from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he said: ‘May he (the risen Jesus) draw us closer on this Easter feast to the victims of terrorism, that blind and brutal form of violence which continues to shed blood in different parts of the world.‘
He mentioned recent attacks in Belgium, where at least 31 people were killed by Islamist militants, as well as those in Turkey, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Iraq. ‘With the weapons of love, God has defeated selfishness and death,’ he added. The 79-year-old pontiff urged people to channel the hope of Easter in order to defeat ‘the evil that seems to have the upper hand in the life of so many people’.
In other parts of his address, Francis expressed the hope that recent talks could resolve the conflict in Syria in order to end the ‘sad wake of destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law and the breakdown of civil concord’. He urged Europe ‘not to forget those men and women seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng of migrants and refugees – including many children – fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social injustice.’
Francis called for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and resolutions to conflicts and political tensions in Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Burundi, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and Ukraine.
The former king and queen of Belgium, Albert II and Paola, who is Italian, attended the Mass and the pope greeted them afterwards.
The pope condemned the Brussels attacks several times during the past week, including at a Good Friday service where he said followers of religions who carried out acts of fundamentalism or terrorism were profaning God’s name.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3511208/Millions-world-celebrate-Easter-Sunday-Pope-delivers-Mass-urging-Catholics-not-lose-hope-wake-Brussels-terror-attacks.html
There will be those who will go beserk and attack me for posting this article and for pointing out the TRUTH about the vati-CON and its agenda for these ‘last days.’ This is NOT intended to attack the true sincere Catholic followers of Yeshua nor their freedom to worship as they choose but, instead, to inform all catholics and those of all religions of the evil plans of those who would remove our right to choose whom and how we would worship our choice of ‘god’ also referred to commonly by some as ‘Creator’. Researching thoroughly the history and disclosures of insiders about the internal affairs of the ‘catholic’ church, in particular in the vati-CON, clearly demonstrates its evil history and its assignment for the last days. The Bible describes the ‘catholic’ church to a ‘T’. It is not the Hindus nor the protestants nor the witches nor others who are called out to be the instigator of the one world religion – but the catholic church in ROME. Studying history of this ‘church” and studying the Bible will clearly demonstrate this to be the truth. One must do their own research and come to their own personal conclusions. We are not trying to convince anyone or impose our beliefs on anyone but simply to attempt to make people aware of the time and season the world has now entered on the prophetic timetable.
Lu 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.a
Matt 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
