--- description: Pope Francis used his 2017 Easter message at the Vatican to speak out against oppressive regimes and war title: Pope Francis Denounces Syria Attacks in Easter Sunday Message image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt108015ea72d1b17e/6988c304656a3f72a2bcf934/pope-francis-easter.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Pope Francis Denounces 'Vile' Syria Attacks in Easter Sunday Message by [Jennifer Calfas](/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 16, 2017 4:36 PM CUT  Pope Francis leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of the Easter Mass on April 16, 2017 in Vatican City, Vatican. The pontiff is due to visit Cairo on April 28th and 29th after being invited by Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II. Pope Francis leaves St. Peter's Square at the end of the Easter Mass on April 16, 2017 in Vatican City, Vatican. The pontiff is due to visit Cairo on April 28th and 29th after being invited by Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.Franco Origlia, Getty Images by [Jennifer Calfas](/author/jennifer-calfas/) ## Jennifer Calfas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 16, 2017 4:36 PM CUT [Pope Francis](http://time.com/4706492/pope-francis-rwanda-genocide/ "undefined") used his [Easter Sunday](http://time.com/4272498/easter-sunday-churches-to-visit/ "undefined") message to denounce the “latest vile attack” on [Syrian civilians](http://time.com/4730310/syria-civil-war-us-response/ "undefined") as thousands gathered at the [Vatican](http://time.com/collection-post/4587751/archbishop-of-washington/ "undefined")‘s St. Peter’s Square to hear him speak. In his formal “Urbi et Orbi” message, which means “to the city and the world,” Pope Francis spoke against oppressive regimes and war, according to the [_Associated Press_](http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/national/pope-decries-vile-attack-syrians-easter-address-article-1.3061019 "undefined"). He highlighted the [latest bombing in Syria](http://time.com/4741449/syrian-tv-blast-evacuation-buses/ "undefined") where at least 100 people were killed at a bus depot near the city of Aleppo amid the ongoing mass evacuations happening in the besieged area. “May \[God\] sustain the efforts of those who are actively working to bring comfort and relief to the civilian population in beloved Syria, who are greatly suffering from a war that does not cease to sow horror and death,” the pontiff said, [according to _BBC_](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39613514 "undefined"). Speaking from the central balcony of [St. Peter’s Basilica](http://time.com/4047904/pope-francis-us-visit-congress-speech/ "undefined"), Francis did not specifically mention specific governments, but offered his support for those that “work for justice and peace.” “In the complex and often dramatic situations of today’s world, may the Risen Lord guide the steps of all those who work for justice and peace,” he said. “May he grant the leaders of nations the courage they need to prevent the spread of conflicts and put a halt to the arms trade.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4741657/pope-francis-easter-sunday-message-syria/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4741657/pope-francis-easter-sunday-message-syria/"},"headline":"Pope Francis Denounces 'Vile' Syria Attacks in Easter Sunday Message","datePublished":"2017-04-16T16:36:52.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T04:26:13.570Z","description":"The Pope pointed to the \"latest vile attack\" in Syria","url":"https://time.com/4741657/pope-francis-easter-sunday-message-syria/","keywords":["Religion","Pope Francis topic","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt108015ea72d1b17e/6988c304656a3f72a2bcf934/pope-francis-easter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Calfas","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/jennifer-calfas/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt108015ea72d1b17e/6988c304656a3f72a2bcf934/pope-francis-easter.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Pope Francis Holds The Easter Mass and Delivers His Urbi Et Orbi Blessing","caption":"Pope Francis Holds The Easter Mass and Delivers His Urbi Et Orbi Blessing","creditText":"Franco Origlia, Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4741657/pope-francis-easter-sunday-message-syria/","name":"Pope Francis Denounces 'Vile' Syria Attacks in Easter Sunday Message"}}]}] ```