VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI said in his traditional Easter Sunday message that he fears for the lives of Christians in Pakistan. Condemning persecution and lamenting the “suffering' of Christian minorities he said, “May the Risen Lord sustain the Christians who suffer persecution and even death for their faith, as for example in Pakistan. The pope urged humankind to undergo a “spiritual and moral conversion' during his traditional Easter message as paedophile priest scandals rock the Roman Catholic Church.“Humanity needs a spiritual and moral conversion,' the 82-year-old pontiff said in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi' message. “It needs to emerge from a profound crisis, one which requires deep change, beginning with consciences.'
The pope also touched on key hot spots in the world, calling for a “true exodus' from conflict in the Middle East, “the land sanctified by (Jesus') death and resurrection.' He urged “a true and definitive ‘exodus' from war and violence to peace and concord', in the Middle East. “To the Christian communities who are experiencing trials and sufferings, especially in Iraq... Peace be with you!' the pope said.