VATICAN CITY — Marking Christianity’s most hopeful day, Pope Francis made an Easter plea for peace and dialogue in Ukraine and Syria, for an end to terrorist attacks against Christians in Nigeria, and for more attention to the hungry and neediest close to home.
More than 150,000 tourists — Romans and pilgrims, young and old — turned out for the Mass that Francis celebrated at an altar set up under a canopy on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.
So great were their numbers that they overflowed from sprawling St. Peter’s Square, which was bedecked with row after row of potted daffodils, sprays of blue hyacinths, and bunches of white roses.
Waving flags from the pope’s native Argentina as well as from Brazil, Mexico, Britain, Poland, and many other countries, they also filled the broad boulevard leading from the square to the Tiber River.
Easter is the culmination of Holy Week and marks Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion.
Francis noted that this year the Catholic Church’s celebration of Easter coincided with that of Orthodox churches, which have many followers in Ukraine.
Francis prayed that God would ‘‘enlighten and inspire the initiatives that promote peace in Ukraine, so that all those involved, with the support of the international community, will make every effort to prevent violence.’’
In eastern Ukraine, the holiday was marred by a deadly shooting Sunday fueled by tensions between pro-Russian supporters in the east and those loyal to an interim government in Kiev. The clash appeared to defy an international agreement reached last week aimed at ending months of unrest.
Francis also prayed that all sides in Syria will be moved to ‘‘boldly negotiate the peace long awaited and long overdue.’’ Syria has been wracked by a three-year civil war that has cost 150,000 lives and forced millions to flee the country.
The Vatican this week is preparing for a historic double canonization next Sunday, in which Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints. Pope Benedict XVI is expected to join Francis at the ceremony.
Thousands of pilgrims from around the world marked Easter in the Holy Land. Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal led Mass on Sunday at the Holy Sepulcher church in Jerusalem, the site is where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected.
In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, worshipers prayed and lit candles at the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. Easter was also celebrated in Gaza where less than 3,000 Christians live among about 1.7 million Muslims.
Israeli police entered the compound of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem’s holiest site, to disperse Palestinians who were throwing rocks at them Sunday. Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police arrested 16 masked Palestinians who threw rocks and firecrackers as the site was opened to tourists. Two officers were hurt, he said.