Speaking days after the body of a kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop was found near the northern city of Mosul, the pontiff also yesterday said the five-year-long Iraq war had completely broken up Iraqi civilian life.
"Enough with the slaughters. Enough with the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!" Benedict said at the end of a Mass in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.
The body of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, who had been abducted Feb. 29, was found Thursday.
Yesterday, Benedict said Rahho's death and his dedication to the Catholic Church compelled him to "raise a strong and sorrowful cry" against the violence in Iraq that arose from the war.
"At the same time, I make an appeal to the Iraqi people, who for the past five years have borne the consequences of a war that provoked the breakup of their civil and social life," the pope said.
Meanwhile, in New York, hundreds took palms and folded them into crosses at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
"It's a tradition for us to come here every year," said Rose Fiero of Brooklyn, a special-ed teacher who was on hand with her son and daughter.
"It means Easter is getting closer and we're waiting for that celebration," she said. "It's exciting. It's very special for us."
Copyright 2008 Associated Press.
By ANDY GELLER, AP, CAROLYN SALAZAR
March 17, 2008
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