Christians celebrate Easter, pope calls for Tibet solution

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — From the foothills of the Himalayas to a rain-soaked Saint Peter's Square, Christians around the world celebrated Easter Sunday amid messages of renewal, peace and hope.

At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI called for "solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good" in Tibet, the Middle East and Africa during his traditional Easter message.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims turned out to hear the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, sheltering from the pelting rain under a sea of umbrellas in the flower-bedecked Saint Peter's Square.

"How can we fail to remember certain African regions, such as Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, and finally Tibet, all of whom I encourage to...