Pope visits St. Peter's tomb under Vatican

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, followed by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, right, and Bishop Vittorio Lanzani, partially hidden, visits the necropolis where pagans and early Christians were buried under St. Peter?s Basilica at the Vatican and where St. Peter is believed to be buried, Monday, April 1, 2013, during what was called the first-ever visit by a pope. The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, followed by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, right, and Bishop Vittorio Lanzani, partially hidden, visits the necropolis where pagans and early Christians were buried under St. Peter?s Basilica at the Vatican and where St. Peter is believed to be buried, Monday, April 1, 2013, during what was called the first-ever visit by a pope. The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, center, visits the necropolis where pagans and early Christians were buried under St. Peter?s Basilica at the Vatican and where St. Peter is believed to be buried, Monday, April 1, 2013, during what was called the first-ever visit by a pope. The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church. At right Bishop Vittorio Lanzani looks on. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, flanked by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, left, and Bishop Vittorio Lanzani, right, kneels in prayer in front of what is believed to be the burial site of St. Peter's in the necropolis where pagans and early Christians were buried under St. Peter?s Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, April 1, 2013, during what was called the first-ever visit by a pope to the necropolis. The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

In this picture made available by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis, followed by Cardinal Angelo Comastri and Bishop Vittorio Lanzani, partially hidden, visits the necropolis where pagans and early Christians were buried under St. Peter?s Basilica at the Vatican and where St. Peter is believed to be buried, Monday, April 1, 2013, during what was called the first-ever visit by a pope. The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Pope Francis waves to the crowd after the Regina Coeli prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Monday, April 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis on Monday took an emotional, close-up look at the tomb of Peter, the church's first pontiff, buried beneath St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said.

By doing so, Francis became the first pontiff to visit the necropolis, where pagans and early Christians were buried, since extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the ancient site decades ago, the Vatican said.

The 45-minute "visit of devotion to the tomb of St. Peter" was private, the Vatican said, but it later released a video of it.

The basilica was built over the location where early Christians would gather in secret, at a time of persecution in ancient Rome, to pray at an unmarked tomb believed to be that of Peter, the apostle Jesus chose to lead his church.

The Vatican first said Francis would pray at Peter's tomb, but later said he prayed instead in the basilica.

The new pope "paused in silent prayer, in profound and emotional meditation" in the Clementine Chapel in the vast basilica that is "the closest place (in the basilica) to the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles," it said.

During a tour of the necropolis conducted by its director and an Italian cardinal, the pope "climbed up a bit, got closer to the place where the tomb of St. Peter lies, exactly under the central altar and the dome of the basilica," the Vatican said.

Francis walked down the entire main street of the ancient city of the dead, the statement said. The streets of the necropolis are similar to those of ancient Rome, only they are flanked by tombs instead of shops and apartments.

The Vatican said Francis walked to the necropolis entrance from the hotel on the Vatican grounds where he lives, took the tour and later ? after paying homage at the tombs of several popes in another underground level known as the grottoes, including Pius XII, Paul VI and John Paul I ? strolled back to his residence.

The underground excursion was a sharp departure from how popes in past years often spent the day after Easter, known in Italy as "little Easter." Those pontiffs would head to Castel Gandolfo, the Vatican palace in the Alban Hills, a short drive from Rome.

But that oasis of sprawling gardens and strolling paths in the quaint hill town is occupied by the predecessor of Francis, Benedict XVI, who spent the last hours of his papacy there before becoming the first pope in 600 years to retire. Benedict is staying in Castel Gandolfo until a monastery at the Vatican in Rome can be readied for him.

Many Italians spend "little Easter" by having a picnic lunch in the countryside or in city parks, and Francis told Romans and tourists who gathered in St. Peter's Square at noon Monday to see him to "have a good lunch." Francis said he was praying that Easter would inspire the faithful so that "hatred gives way to love, lies to truth," and that it would especially comfort those in "most need of trust and hope."

He spoke to them from the studio window of the apartment in the Apostolic Palace overlooking the square. Benedict and popes before him lived there, but so far Francis, who stresses simplicity, has declined to move into the quarters.

Instead, he has continued to stay at the Vatican hotel, where, as Buenos Aires archbishop, he stayed with fellow cardinals to elect Benedict's successor. They chose him, Jorge Bergoglio, the first pontiff from South America.

St. Peter's mission was to continue to preach the message of Jesus and reach more souls. Francis, as a Jesuit, is steeped in the evangelizing mission of the church, and the necropolis tour brings him back to the origins of the church in its simplest years as a community of Christians professing their faith in defiance of the crackdown by Roman emperors.

Peter himself was among the Christian martyrs during Nero's reign. He is believed to have been crucified, head down, on the Vatican hill.

Constantine, the first Christian emperor, had an early basilica built on the slopes of the Vatican Hill, burying the pagan and Christian cemetery ? necropolis means 'city of the dead' ? that surrounded Peter's burial site.

The current basilica, named after St. Peter, was constructed over the earlier basilica that was deemed unsafe and demolished in the late 15th century.

The Baroque master architect Bernini designed the bronze canopy over the central altar over the spot of Peter's burial site. The current basilica was planned as an awe-inspiring monument that would project the image of a powerful church.

Under popes of the last century, extensive excavations were carried out of the sprawling necropolis. In 1965, archaeologists said they had found the bones of Peter in an area near an ancient Greek inscription saying "Peter is here."

Part of a nearby necropolis came to light in 2003 during construction of a parking lot.

A few years ago, the Vatican unveiled the largest and most luxurious of the pagan tombs under St. Peter's Basilica ? that of a family of former slaves.

Guided tours of the necropolis, upon appointment, have been one of the most sought-after attractions for tourists to the Vatican.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-01-EU-Vatican-Pope/id-1dce0c295c9447d4adf216ab789fd9c3

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Collapsing ?Hamlet?: hiSTORYstage Spins William Shakespeare's ...

EDITOR?S NOTE: Dawn Reno Langley is a Durham, NC-based author who writes novels, poetry, children?s books, and nonfiction books on many subjects, as well as theater reviews. She is also Dean of General Education and Developmental Studies at Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, where she oversees the theater program at the Kirby Cultural Arts Complex, and a member of the Person County Arts Council. To read all of Dawn Langley?s Triangle Review reviews online at Triangle Arts & Entertainment, click http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/author/dawn-reno-langle/. To read more of her writings, click http://dawnrenolangley.blogspot.com/ and http://poetryandgardening.blogspot.com/.

Imagine Cirque de Soleil and Shakespeare and flash fiction and you have hiSTORYstage Theatre Company?s version of The Marowitz Hamlet, which ran March 27-30 at Common Ground Theatre in Durham, NC. Strange combination, right? No stranger than Romeo and Juliet being re-composed as a gang war set in the boroughs of New York City, circa 1957. Everyone has a favorite way of re-envisioning Shakespeare?s classics and Charles Marowitz?s interpretation of the classic story of the young Hamlet dealing with his father?s murder and his mother?s infidelity, shortens the original five-act play, sometimes running it as a stream-of-consciousness story that somehow gives more depth to the underlying current of insanity the Shakespearean classic embodies.

The hiSTORYstage production of the play, set in a theater-in-the-round staging accented by a Cirque de Soleil hanging drapery, offers both a distinctive and unusual spin on the story. When the play opens, young Hamlet (Clint Lienau) lies on a pallet placed center stage, the hanging drapery wrapped around him like a bedspread. When he tosses it off at the first sight of the ghost of his father, the late King Hamlet of Denmark (Wayne Burtoft), the viewer think that the drapery might get in the way of the performance. Instead, it takes on its own life, becoming a pseudo-character, sometimes acting like a rope, sometimes acting like a curtain, and at still other times acting like a noose. After the initial introduction to the prop, the audience is instantly drawn into the tragedy studied by students for hundreds of years.

Director Rebecca C. Blum turns a unique performance of Marowitz?s version into a well-acted and cast performance with both seasoned actors and stage ?virgins? collaborating to create a play where the timing is as important as the soliloquies. Hamlet?s Ghost, played by Wayne Burtoft, is the conscience of the play; and it requires both a stately persona and a resonant voice in order to be believable. Burtoft provides both, as well as a substantial appearance that underscores the commands he utters to his son, especially when he demands that Hamlet seek revenge for his ?most foul and unnatural murder.?

Other characters are also well-cast, including the tenderly insane Ophelia, played with sensitivity (and a voice) by Stephanie Rinehart. Her portrayal is not only accurate but believable. Though the playbill states this is her first journey into Shakespeare?s world, it appears she has laid a strong foundation for her acting career prior to this performance.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, played with a bumbling, joined-at-the-hip, and frantic nature by Diana McQueen and Ruth Berry, are Marowitz?s statement on the ?absurdity of life?; and it is that philosophy they embody throughout their disconnected statements on Hamlet?s life and actions. Both women are also new to the stage, yet their timing offers verve to the sycophantic duo responsible for transferring messages between kingdoms.

As the cheating Gertrude, Sarah Schmitt exercises her years of acting experience and gives credence to the confusion Gertrude feels. It is around this indiscretion that the play revolves, and Schmitt is a believable regal woman caught up in the all-too-human act of falling for another man while married to a powerful politician. When she looks up at R. Alex Davis?s Claudius, her passion for him is palpable. That complex passion is underscored by the casting of Davis, a character who appears to be the ?boy toy? to King Hamlet?s older statesman. As the preening and conceited Claudius, Davis is sufficiently dislikable, as he should be.

Laertes (John Minervino) struggles with his allegiance to Hamlet and his tendency to overprotect his sister, Ophelia; and though his time on stage is fairly short, Minervino meets the challenge of meandering into conversations and offering a moral high point to the fairly dysfunctional families.

The young Hamlet, bewildered and angered by his mother?s murderous intentions, is one of the most complex of all Shakespearean characters to play. The many soliloquies and subterfuge prescribed to Hamlet requires an intensity and a depth few actors can reach at a young age. This Hamlet, played by Clint Lienau, appears more nervous and confused than intent on gaining revenge for his father?s murder. At times, his slight frame appears to collapse in on itself rather than to puff up and strengthen. Though Lienau?s acting is adequate, this is the one character that may have benefited from a better casting decision.

The one character who is absolutely perfect in his role is the Clown, Seth Blum, a veteran of many Shakespearean roles and husband of the director. As Hamlet?s ?mirror,? the Clown gives voice to the young prince?s imagination and questionings. Blum blithely offers commentary on the actions of the other characters, as well as snippy advice to young Hamlet. He brightens the stage with his antics and evidences a strong capability of acting the wise fool that is a Shakespearean standard.

Though the strobe light sequence is not only unnecessary but, at times, disturbing, the set lighting worked to dramatize the play?s abridged scenes. By punctuating the scenes that often drifted in and out of one setting and one character to another, the lighting assisted the audience in understanding how swiftly the Marowitz version of the play moved throughout an otherwise interminable five acts. One supposes that one artifice (the Cirque de Soleil drapery) might have been enough for this nonlinear summary; however, the strobe did serve to remind the audience of the postmodern elements of Marowitz?s version of the tragic Hamlet.

THE MAROWITZ HAMLET (hiSTORY Stage, March 27-30 at Common Ground Theatre in Durham, NC).

SHOW: http://www.historystage.org/The_Marowitz_Hamlet.html.

VIDEO PREVIEW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qX6P1gpYQsI.

SEASON: http://www.historystage.org/Season.html.

PRESENTER: http://www.historystage.org/Home.html.

VENUE: http://www.cgtheatre.com/.

OTHER LINKS:

The Marowitz Hamlet (play): http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=4474 (Dramatists Play Service, Inc.).

Charles Marowitz (playwright): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Marowitz (Wikipedia).

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Source: http://triangleartsandentertainment.org/2013/04/collapsing-hamlet-historystage-spins-william-shakespeares-classic-tragedy-literally/

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'Substantive agreement' on immigration reform

Immigration Reform Rally

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Schumer said today that while there is not a final deal on immigration legislation just yet, the bi-partisan "Gang of Eight" senators working on immigration reform has reached a "substantive agreement" on the major components of an immigration plan.

"It is not a done deal. We have to draft the legislation. We have to have the group of eight sign off on the specific language, but we have substantive agreement on all the major pieces now between the eight of us," the Democrat from New York said in an interview with ABC News Sunday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made a similar statement today and said that he expects the parameters of the plan to be revealed next week.

"I think we've got a deal. We've got to write the legislation, but 2013, I hope, will be the year that we pass bipartisan immigration reform," Graham said on CNN's "State of the Union." "It's got to be written off. We haven't signed off. There are a few details yet. But conceptually, we have an agreement between business and labor, between ourselves that has to be drafted. It will be rolled out next week."

On Friday, business and labor leaders came to an agreement on a visa program for low-skilled immigrant workers, a major turning point in the debate on immigration reform.

In what the AFL-CIO described as the "W-Visa" program, 20,000 visas would be available for low-skilled workers beginning in April of 2015. The number of available visas would increase gradually in the following years but would never go above 200,000 or dip below 20,000 in any given year. Only 15,000 visas would be allocated to construction jobs each year.

"The fact that business and labor have come to an agreement overcomes the last major substantive hurdle we've had in our negotiations," Schumer told ABC News.

But the deal on a guest worker program does not mean the senate group's plan is finalized, because the Gang of Eight still has to hammer out details including border security and the path to citizenship and write the actual legislation.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., one of the members of the bipartisan group working on immigration, said today that reports of a final deal being reached are "premature," and he called for more hearings and discussion on the topic of immigration so that a "healthy public debate" is conducted.

"Arriving at a final product will require it to be properly submitted for the American people's consideration, through the other 92 senators from 43 states that weren't part of this initial drafting process," Rubio said in a statement. "In order to succeed, this process cannot be rushed or done in secret."

ABC News' Carlos Boettcher contributed to this report.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/schumer-gang-8-substantive-agreement-immigration-issues-230408180--abc-news-politics.html

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Our Favorite Soundbars, Streaming Boxes, Stoves, and More

Winter's slowly winding down, and no doubt, the warm weather is beginning to beckon, what with the birds and the sunshine and the joyful frolicking and whatnot. And we'd be out there enjoying it, too... if this past month hadn't given us a whole slew of gadgets to stay inside drooling over. Ah well—the sun looks just as good from a window, anyway. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/LVBZEkQ5Qbc/our-favorite-playbars-streaming-boxes-stoves-and-more

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Panasonic explains how its color splitter sensor works in a vividly detailed video

You'd be forgiven if you weren't entirely on the same page with Panasonic regarding its micro color splitter sensor: it's a big break from the traditional Bayer filter approach on digital cameras, and the deluge of text doesn't do much to simplify the concept. Much to our relief, DigInfo TV has grilled Panasonic in a video that provides a more easily digestible (if still deep) interpretation. As the technology's creator says, it's all about the math. To let in so much light through the splitters requires processing the light in four mixed colors, and that processing requires studying the light's behavior in 3D. Panasonic's new method (Babinet-BPM) makes that feasible by finishing tasks 325 times faster than usual, all while chewing up just a 16th of the memory. The company isn't much closer to having production examples, but it's clarifying that future development will be specialized -- it wants to fine-tune the splitter behavior for everything from smartphone cameras through to security systems. Catch the full outline after the break.

Filed under: Cameras

Comments

Via: GSM Arena

Source: DigInfo TV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/31/video-explains-how-panasonics-color-splitter-sensor-works/

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Serotonin and Migraine Headaches

Information by Thomas C. Weiss - Published: 2013-03-30

A serotonin migraine is due to a deficiency in a person's serotonin level. During a Serotonin migraine, the levels of Serotonin in a person's system may rise and suddenly fall prior to the migraine. Low levels of serotonin are linked to both migraines and depression.

There is a definite link between migraines and the levels of Serotonin in a person's body. Serotonin has been intensively studied and is believed to play a crucial role involving migraine headaches. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter. It is important in the maintenance of extra cranial vasoconstriction.

Serotonin and its Production

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that passes signals from one portion of a person's brain to another. While you might never have a doctor mention anything about Serotonin, some medications are supposed to increase levels of it in people who experience migraines and skilled headache specialists are aware of this fact. Serotonin is produced in a person's brain where its main function is, yet surprisingly ? 90% of Serotonin is found in a person's stomach and blood platelets.

Serotonin is made through a biochemical process. Changes in the levels of Serotonin in a person's brain may also alter their mood. A number of people are administered antidepressants to help with Serotonin migraines. Serotonin is an organic compound that is also known as, '5-hydroxytryptamine,' or, '5-HT.' In a person's body, approximately 90% is found in their stomach and 10% in their blood platelets. The levels of the neurotransmitter in a person's body, either too much or too little, has been linked to a number of disorders including:

• Bulimia
• Migraine
• Depression
• Alcoholism
• Cluster headache
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Serotonin appears to influence a person's mood and libido, as well as impacting blood vessel constriction. According to J. John Mann of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the message molecule flow from a nerve cell or, 'neuron,' onto other neurons act as receivers. There, they attach to a distinctly shaped area on the neuron referred to as a, 'receptor site.' The union, which is similar to a key fitting into a lock, then triggers signals which either permit the message to be passed on to other cells, or prevent the message from being passed forward.

While Serotonin does not appear to be the main cause of a migraine, low levels have been linked to migraine headaches for a long time. The majority of medication treatments of migraines influence Serotonin levels in one way or another, from the early use of, 'Ergotamine Tartrate,' the more recent, 'Triptan,' medications such as Imatrex. Repeated use of over the counter painkillers might actually lower levels of Serotonin in a person's body, potentially explaining why headaches begin returning on a regular basis when a person takes too many painkillers.

Hormonal headache might also have a relationship to Serotonin since the levels appear to be linked to estrogen levels. Recently, at least one genetic defect has been discovered that influences the production of Serotonin in a person's body. The defect, as well as other related defects, might explain why some people are more prone to disorders including depression.

Along with specific medications for migraine, Serotonin levels might be influenced by the foods a person eats. 'Tryptphen,' which is a precursor of the neurotransmitter in a person's body, can be found in a number of different foods. A newer means of increasing levels is by taking a 5-HTP supplement. People may be able to learn to recognize and avoid fluctuations in their Serotonin levels that affect their moods and appetite. People who experience migraines can reduce the frequency and severity of their headaches by avoiding certain activities and foods that are known to trigger migraines, as well as by selecting foods and activities that will raise their brain's supply of tryptophan.

Serotonin and Health

Serotonin is believed to influence several body functions. The majority of a person's brain cells are influenced either directly or indirectly by Serotonin, to include brain cells that are related to:

• Sleep
• Mood
• Memory
• Learning
• Appetite
• Some social behavior

Serotonin also plays a crucial role in a number of additional functions in a person's body. You might think that having low levels of Serotonin in your body could put you at risk of a Serotonin migraine and that the solution is to take more Serotonin ? this is not the case. The following is what may happen if a person develops, 'Serotonin syndrome,' by having levels of Serotonin that are too high.

Serotonin Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome happens when a person takes medications that cause high levels of Serotonin to accumulate in their body. Serotonin syndrome may happen when a person increases the dosage of a medication, or adds a new one to their regimen. Certain illicit drugs and dietary supplements are also associated with the syndrome. Too much Serotonin causes symptoms that can range from mild, such as diarrhea or shivering, to severe ? such as fever, muscle rigidity, and seizures. Severe Serotonin syndrome may even be fatal if not treated.

Milder forms of Serotonin syndrome might simply go away within a day of stopping the medications that are causing the symptoms. Sometimes, taking medications that block Serotonin can produce the same results. If a doctor switches your medications that raise Serotonin levels be sure to pay close attention and when it says to wait two weeks between taking one and another medication ? do so. Watch for symptoms of elevated levels of Serotonin such as:

• Fever
• Anxiety
• Flushing
• Paleness
• Headache
• Confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Poor coordination
• Irregular heartbeat
• Change in heart rate

Unfortunately, if a person's Serotonin levels are too low, they may also experience Serotonin migraine. It is important to pay attention to how much you take and the side effects. There are also easy ways to naturally stimulate the production of Serotonin. Regular exercise, relaxation, walking while the sun is out, spending time with a pet, or simply enjoying yourself are all ways to stimulate Serotonin production. All of these are also stimulate natural pain killers called, 'endorphins.'

Serotonin Level & Migraines
http://www.livestrong.com/article/316634-serotonin-level-migraines/

Many people regularly suffer the pain of migraine headaches. Serotonin, a chemical in the brain, may be a key factor in migraine headaches.

Serotonin and Headache
http://www.achenet.org/resources/serotonin_and_headache/

Serotonin is a critical chemical neurotransmitter in your brain, gut and other nerve tissues.

Guidebook for Preventing Migraine Headaches, Depression, Insomnia, and Bipolar Syndrome
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/migraine.htm

The Migraine Syndrome may begin in childhood, adolescence or early adult life and continue to reoccur at periodic intervals, which vary with the individual, and sometimes diminish in frequency as the person advances in age.

This web page is from the Disabled World Migraines and Headaches section which provides: Information regarding types of migraines and headaches including pain levels and treatment.

Living with Migraines 1 - Migraine is best described as a neurological syndrome characterized by altered bodily perceptions, severe headaches, and nausea. Physiologically, the migraine headache is a neurological condition more common to women than to men.

Living with Migraines 2 - There are migraine headache variants, some originate in the brainstem (featuring intercellular transport dysfunction of calcium and potassium ions) and some are genetically disposed.

Serotonin - (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans. It is thought to be a contributor to feelings of well-being and happiness. In addition to animals, serotonin is found in fungi and plants.

Source: http://www.disabled-world.com/health/neurology/migraine/serotonin.php

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Pope appeals for peace, end to Korea tensions, in Easter message

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis used his first Easter Sunday address to call for peace in the world and appealed for a diplomatic solution to the crisis on the Korean peninsula.

In his first "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message, Francis also called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, an end to the civil war in Syria, and political solutions to conflicts in several African countries.

The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, who has made defense of nature an early hallmark of his pontificate, also condemned the "iniquitous exploitation of natural resources" and urged everyone to be "guardians" of creation.

Francis delivered his message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica - the same spot from where he first appeared to the world as pope after his election on March 13 - to a crowd estimated by the Vatican at least 250,000 people.

"Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow," he said, speaking in Italian.

North Korea said on Saturday it was entering a "state of war" with South Korea. Tensions have been high since the North's new young leader Kim Jong-un ordered a third nuclear weapons test in February, breaching U.N. sanctions and ignoring warnings from North Korea's sole major ally, China, not to do so.

Francis, who has brought a more simple and personal style to the papacy, said the message of Easter is that faith can help people transform their lives by letting "those desert places in our hearts bloom".

GUARDIANS OF CREATION

"How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbor, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the creator has given us and continues to give us," he said.

Earlier, at a Mass in a square bedecked by more than 40,000 plants and flowers, the pope wore relatively simple white vestments, as opposed to his predecessor Benedict, who preferred more elaborate robes.

The huge crowd spilled out of St. Peter's Square and into surrounding streets and included many who had come to see a pope they hope could give a new start to a Church that has been marred by scandals involving sexual abuse of children and allegations of corruption.

"It's a new pope and new beginning," said Tina Hughes, 67, who came to Rome with her family from Nottingham, England to see the pope. "I think he brings something special. He connects with people. I feel good about him."

Francis, who took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is revered as a symbol of austerity and the importance of the natural world, said:

"Peace in the whole world, still divided by greed looking for easy gain, wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family, selfishness that continues in human trafficking, the most extensive form of slavery in this 21st century.

"Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to drug trafficking and by the iniquitous exploitation of natural resources! Peace to this our Earth! May the risen Jesus bring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible guardians of creation."

Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion, was the culmination of four hectic days of activity for the pope, during which he instituted several novelties.

On Holy Thursday, two women were included among the 12 people whose feet he washed and kissed during a traditional ceremony that had previously been open only to men.

Francis is still living in the same Vatican guesthouse where he stayed during the conclave that elected him the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, instead of moving into the regal papal apartments in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

He has also been inviting ordinary people to his morning Mass at the guesthouse, including Vatican street sweepers and gardeners.

(Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-appeals-peace-end-korea-tensions-easter-message-102404763.html

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