VOICE OF REASON AND CONSCIENCE MUST REPLACE SOUND OF ARMS

VATICAN CITY, APR 18, 2001 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope told the 20,000 pilgrims present that, "while the light of the Risen Christ shines over the whole universe, we cannot fail to feel solidarity with our brothers in the Middle East who are enduring a maelstrom of armed violence and retaliation."

"The voice of reason and conscience must take the place of the sound of arms," added the Holy Father. "Sincere attention to the legitimate aspirations of all the peoples and scrupulous observance of international law are the only means capable of leading the sides back to the negotiating tables and tracing a path of fraternity for those populations.

"May God speak to the heart of those who kill and have mercy on those who suffer such violence! Tu nobis, Victor Rex, miserere!"

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