Pope urges end to violence in Syria

Pope Benedict XVI used his annual Easter Sunday message to callfor an end to the bloodshed in Syria as tens of thousands ofpeoplelistenedunder sun-drenched skies in St. Peter's Square.

In his Urbi et Orbi (to the City of Rome and to the World) address, heurged the Syrian regime to heed international calls to end the violence and to commit to peace talks.

"Benedict also expressed concerns about terrorist attacks in Nigeria that have targeted Christians and Muslims alike. He also prayed for peace in Mali where the government was just been ousted in a coup," CBC's Megan Williams reported from Rome.

Lookingtired and sounding hoarse after his recent whirlwind visit to Cuba and Mexico, the 84-year-old pontiffstood in front of a gold throne under a red canopy and wished the crowds a Happy Easter.

Benedict, who turns 85 on April 16, is wrapping up stamina-taxing Holy Week ceremonies that drew huge crowds to Rome.

His speech, delivered on the central balcony ofSt. Peter's Basilica, followedthe celebration ofEaster Sunday mass, markingChristianity's most joyous day of the year. The faithful celebrate their belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Late Saturday, during a three-hour vigil mass,the Pope talked about disbelief in God, or "the darknessenshrouding God and the "obscuring" of values, as beingthe world's greatest problem right now. He alsoexpressedconcern for theunemployed and others impacted byeconomicproblems aroundthe world.

"Last night, he didn't even walk the distance insideSt. Peter's Basilica. They put him on a raisedplatform and wheeled theplatform to the altar, so they're looking for ways to save the Pope energy," CBC's Megan Williams reported from Rome.

"That said, hestill has a lot of tenacity, intellectually and mentally. On Thursday, he gave a very stern address to priests in Austria who would like women ordained, so he's fighting that. Certainly he's not backing away from the doctrine that the church wants to staunchly defend, but physically they're trying to find ways to save his health at this late age."