12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

VATICAN CITY, April 11: Pope John Paul told the world in his Easter message on Sunday that a culture of love had to defeat terrorism and the "logic of death" and revenge in Iraq and other places where conflict reigns.

The long shadow of the conflict in Iraq reached as far as St Peter's Square this year with an Easter season that has been marked by unprecedented security for fear of an attack at the heart of Christianity or elsewhere in Italy.

Many more police - in uniform and plainclothes - were on hand than in the past to check people as they entered the Vatican area to see the pope celebrate his Easter Sunday mass and make his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message.

The Polish pope, who afterwards wished the world a Happy Easter in 62 languages - including Arabic and Hebrew - painted one of the bleakest pictures of the world that he ever has in his 26 Easters as Roman Catholic leader.

Wearing resplendent gold and white vestments, he called for a commitment to overcome what he called the evil scourge of terrorism. The pontiff's voice was hoarse but he raised it several times to stress his peace appeal.

"May (humanity) find the strength to face the inhuman, and unfortunately growing, phenomenon of terrorism, which rejects life and brings anguish and uncertainty to the daily lives of so many hard-working and peaceful people," he said.

He said the entire international community had its work cut out for it in trying to deal with conflicts, specifically mentioning Iraq, the Holy Land and Africa.

"Take heed all of you who have at heart mankind's future! Take heed men and women of good will! May the temptation to seek revenge give way to the courage to forgive; may the culture of life and love render vain the logic of death; may trust once more give breath to the lives of peoples," he said. "If our future is one, it is the task and duty of all to build it with patient and painstaking far-sightedness," he said. -Reuters