On Easter, Pope condemns ‘vile’ Syrian attack

Pope Francis has used his Easter address to condemn Saturday's deadly attack on a bus convoy in Syria and to denounce “oppressive regimes”.

The Pope delivered his "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") message to thousands of Catholic pilgrims who gathered in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.

He said that the bombing, which killed over 100 people near the city of Aleppo, was "the latest vile attack on fleeing refugees".

"May [God] in a particular way sustain the efforts of those who are actively working to bring healing and comfort to the civilian population of Syria, the beloved and martyred Syria, who are victims of a war that does not cease to sow horror and death," he said.

Speaking on the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar, he called for peace in Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He also spoke of God walking “beside all those forced to leave their homelands as a result of armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, famine and oppressive regimes”.

He did not name any specific governments.

“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, May he grant the leaders of nations the courage they need to prevent the spread of conflicts and to put a halt to the arms trade,” he said.