Pope says Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict celebrated an Easter Mass for tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Sunday as Christians around the world commemorated Jesus Christ's resurrection.
The 81-year-old pontiff, wearing gold and cream-coloured vestments, told the faithful that Christ's resurrection was a "cry of victory that unites us all today".
"He is our hope, He is the true peace of the world," said the pope, addressing crowds under overcast skies.
Much of Italy's attention has shifted over the past week to a devastating earthquake last Monday that killed at least 293 people and left nearly 40,000 homeless.
The pontiff has prayed for survivors and plans to soon visit the disaster zone in the nearby Abruzzo region.
At the end of the Easter service the pope was due to deliver his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing and message and deliver Easter greetings to the world in 63 languages.
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