Pope Francis gives first Easter Sunday Sermon -Sunday March 31,2013

Pope Francis(76)delivered a traditional plea for world peace from his Rome balcony as 250,000 followers await his first Easter blessing in St Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis used his "Urbi et Orbi"(To the city and the world) address to call for peace in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and across the globe

Pope Francis said -

"We ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace."
The Pope then mentioned troubled regions of the world in turn

• Peace for the Middle East, and particularly between Israelis and Palestinians, who struggle to find the road of agreement

• Peace in Iraq, that every act of violence may end

• Syria, for its people torn by conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort

• For Africa, the Pope referred to Mali, Nigeria - "where attacks sadly continue" - the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.

• Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow