Slavery in the 21st century is the worst slavery, because of the great greed of individuals, many people in the world are suffering terribly, said Pope Francis to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square in his first message Urbi et orbi (to the city and the world).
The Pope spoke about the numerous wars in the world and did not fail to mention a single part of the world where there is now a state of war.
He especially emphasized that "we are praying for beloved Syria", where many are suffering and there are more and more refugees and those who need help, the agencies report.
He also mentioned the conflict between Israel and Palestine and called on everyone to pray for a solution to this difficult conflict.
He said that Easter is a sign of hope, and since "God is life", the pope said to all those who are desperate and in trouble that he can do everything, including "healing dry bones".
He spoke about the drug trade, which causes many people in the world to suffer from poverty.
"Slavery of the 21st century is the worst kind of slavery. Due to the great greed of individuals, many people in the world are suffering terribly," Pope Francis said.
The Latin Patriarch celebrated the Easter Mass in Jerusalem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fuad Twal, held an Easter Mass today in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City of Jerusalem and invited Pope Francis and pilgrims from all over the world to come to the Holy Land (Palestine).
"As Christians, God calls you here to bring the light of faith to the center of our region of the Middle East where Christianity was born, where the mother church of Jerusalem was born, here where every Christian was born," said Tval, the highest Roman Catholic dignitary in the Holy Land.
For the first time this year, the majority of Catholics in the Holy Land will celebrate Easter together with Orthodox believers, with the exception of the communities in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which retain the celebration of this holiday according to the new, Gregorian calendar.
The Patriarch also spoke about the victims of the civil war in Syria and Syrian refugees, as well as Christians in the Holy Land who want to avoid suffering.
Christians represented more than 18 percent of the population of the Holy Land in 1948, when the state of Israel was created, and today they are less than two percent, said the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The Orthodox, who make up the majority of Christians in the Holy Land, celebrate Easter on May 5, according to the old Julian calendar.
For the first time this year, the majority of Catholics in the Holy Land will celebrate Easter together with Orthodox believers, with the exception of the communities in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which retain the observance of this holiday according to the new, Gregorian calendar.
"The decision to unite the celebration of Easter is not easy, but it is the first step towards complete unity that we should bring about through our prayer," said Tval.
The Jewish Passover, which commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt according to biblical tradition, ends tomorrow evening at the end of the Sunday celebration.
Holy Sunday in Jerusalem ends on Sunday, March 31, Easter, the biggest Christian holiday, when Jesus Christ is believed to have risen from the dead after his crucifixion.
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