Pope Benedict XVI has urged 'solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good' in Tibet, the Middle East and Africa during his traditional Easter message.
'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 seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good,' the pope said in his traditional 'urbi et orbi' (to the city and the world) message.
Speaking as pilgrims in St Peter's Square braved a steady rain, the head of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics wished that 'the light that streams forth from this solemn day (may) shine forth in every part of the world'.
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday.
The 80-year-old Pope wore the white and gold vestments and gold mitre of Benedict XV, the pope from 1914 to 1922, for the occasion.
Yesterday, Pope Benedict baptised a former Muslim among seven converts to Roman Catholicism during an Easter vigil mass at St Peter's Basilica.
The Italian editor and critic of Islamic extremism, Magdi Allam, branded his former faith as intrinsically violent.
Last night's observance symbolises the passage of Jesus Christ from death to resurrection and is traditionally marked by adult baptisms.
