Pope John Paul II on Sunday urged people across the globe to fight terrorism as Christians celebrated the culmination of Easter, a festival clouded this year by warnings of more terror strikes.
The fears of further terror attacks in Europe and chilling images from Iraq have cast a long shadow over the holiest period in the Christian calendar, which marks the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John Paul II used his Easter Sunday message to urge mankind to oppose the "inhuman" phenomenon of terrorism and prayed that humanity would find "the courage to oppose in solidarity the many evils that afflict it".
The 83-year-old pontiff, who said the world was "troubled by many threatening shadows", appeared weary from the very beginning of the lengthy mass and spoke haltingly, often grimacing with the effort of his delivery.
Last year, the pope had warned that the US-led invasion of Iraq would drive a wedge between Muslim and Christian cultures. Conflicts in Iraq, the Middle East and Africa again loomed large in his Easter message.
Sunday's celebration, broadcast to millions around the world, was a test for the pope, who is crippled by Parkinson's disease.
Tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square amid tight security to hear his message and traditional "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing in 62 languages.
Security was ramped up around the Vatican for the occasion, with 16,000 police and paramilitary troops placed on guard and pilgrims passing through airport-style metal detectors to enter St Peter's Square.
In Iraq, the small Christian community celebrated Easter amid fears over the rising influence of Shiite Muslim fundamentalism, as the patriarch of the Chaldean church appealed for an end to bloodshed in the country.
At the Church of the Holy Virgin in Baghdad, Emmanuel Delly called for an end to the tide of violence. More than 400 people have been killed and 1,000 wounded in the past week of clashes between insurgents and US troops.
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