Pope appeals for action on Darfur, Somalia and Burundi

Pope Benedict yesterday launched appeals for Somalia, Darfur and Burundi. where, he said: "news continues to cause profound suffering and intense concern". Addressing pilgrims in St Peter's Square after the Angelus, he said: "In Somalia, and especially in Mogadishu, armed conflicts render the humanitarian situation ever more dramatic for that dear people, who for too many years have been oppressed by the burden of brutality and poverty". "In Darfur, despite a few momentary glimmers of hope, the tragedy continues for hundreds of thousands of defenceless and abandoned people". Finally, the Pope turned his attention to Burundi, calling on all sides involved in recent conflict "to return without delay to the path of dialogue and reconciliation", especially "following the bombardments of recent days which terrorised the inhabitants of the capital Bujumbura". He concluded: "I trust that local political authorities, the leaders of the international community and all people of good will make every effort to put an end to the violence and to honour the commitments they have taken on, so as to lay solid foundations for peace and development". Source: VIS