Pope Francis Calls for Peace in First Easter Mass

250,000 attend in St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis delivered a plea for peace in his first Easter Sunday message to the world, decrying seemingly endless conflicts in the Middle East and on the Korean peninsula after celebrating Mass along with more than 250,000 people in flower-bedecked St. Peter's Square.

Francis shared in his flock's exuberance as they celebrated Christianity's core belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead following crucifixion. After Mass, he stepped aboard an open-topped white pope-mobile for a cheerful spin through the joyous crowd, kissing babies and patting children on the head.