Pope decries plentitude of weapons, expresses hope in Easter peace wish

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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is decrying the plentitude of weapons in the world in his Easter peace wish.

Yet a note of cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" message. Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square, Francis made his first public comments about the framework accord aimed at ensuring Iran doesn't develop a nuclear weapon, saying he hopes "it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world."

But Francis also said the world is being subjected to "arms dealers, who earn their living with the blood of men and women."

He denounced the "absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence" in Libya, where tribal and militia rivalries continue to fuel fighting. He also prayed that "a common desire for peace" would prevail in Yemen and that the "roar of arms may cease" in Syria and Iraq.

He also recalled the young people, many of them targeted because they were Christians, killed last week in a Kenyan university, and lamented kidnappings by Islamic extremists that have plagued parts of Africa, including Nigeria.

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APPHOTO OSS108: Pope Francis prays before delivering the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, April 5, 2015. In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. Cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world's affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Pool) (5 Apr 2015)

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APPHOTO OSS107: Pope Francis reads the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) message at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, April 5, 2015. In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. Cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world's affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Pool) (5 Apr 2015)

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APPHOTO OSS105: Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, April 5, 2015. In an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis on Sunday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. Cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world's affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Pool) (5 Apr 2015)

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APPHOTO ALT139: Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican , Sunday, April 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (5 Apr 2015)

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