JAN PAWEL II URBI ET ORBI

PHOTO: EAST NEWS/REX FEATURES POPE MAKES EASTER ADDRESS-- Pope John Paul II made his annual Easter address to an audience of thousands packed into Rome's rain-soaked St Peter's Square on Sunday (20 April). During his address to the world's one billion Roman Catholics, the 82-year-old pontiff called for the Iraqi people to be given a leading role in rebuilding their country in the wake of war. He placed particular emphasis on the globe's 'forgotten wars' including the continuing conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus and in Latin America. The central point of the pope's traditional address "Urbi et Orbi" - Latin for "To the city and to the World" - was the need for peace worldwide and for understanding between the different religions. It was preceded by Easter Mass celebrating the resurrection of Christ and on Saturday night, a three-hour vigil mass in St Peter's. "Peace in Iraq," Pope John Paul II declared, drawing massive cheers from the estimated 100,000 pilgrims in attendance. "With the support of the international community, may the Iraqi people become the protagonists of their collective rebuilding of their country," he said. "May God grant that we be free from the peril of a tragic clash between cultures and religions." At the end of the speech the Pope gave his greetings in more than 60 different languages to the delight of the international crowd. The Pope, who is due to celebrate his 83rd birthday next month, has difficulty in walking and made use of a special mobile throne, pushed by attendants, to move around the basilica. He has reportedly refused to allow his increasing immobility from stopping him officiating at all the main Easter ceremonies in Rome.