Pope Benedict XVI of the Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican on Sunday (April 8) called for bringing an end to the violence in Syria, renouncing violence and enhancing stability everywhere, condemning the "discrimination and persecution against Christians in the Middle East and Africa".

The pontiff made the remarks during a sermon on the Catholic Christians' celebration of Easter, addressing tens of thousands who gathered at the Saint Peter's Square. [Author Not Mentioned, al-Akhbār, April 9, p. 13] Read text in Arabic