Pope John Paul II has told the world in his Easter message today that a culture of love had to defeat terrorism and the "logic of death" and revenge in Iraq, the Holy Land and other places where conflict reigns.
Pope John Paul II blesses the faithful as he tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican at the end of the Easter mass
The 83-year-old pope, marking the 26th Easter season of his pontificate, made his comments in his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message at the end of his Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square.
"May the temptation to seek revenge give way to the courage to forgive. May the culture of life and love render vain the logic of death," he said.
He specifically mentioned Iraq, the Holy Land and Africa in his address, read to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square and televised live throughout the world.
He prayed that humanity could find the strength "to face the inhuman and unfortunately growing, phenomenon of terrorism, which rejects life and brings anguish and uncertainty to the daily lives of so many hard-working and peaceful people."
He greeted the faithful from his wheeled throne as he celebrated the Roman Catholic Church's most joyous holiday - the day, according to the Bible, that Jesus rose from the dead after crucifixion.
The 83-year-old Pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, appeared alert and spoke clearly at the start of the Mass, despite having struggled through a three-hour Easter Vigil that ended just a few hours earlier.
Later, he was to deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message - Latin for "To the city and the world." In years past, the pope has used the message to reflect on such problems as war, terrorism and poverty.