Pope Francis called the violence "inhuman acts" that outraged God and offered prayers to the victims of the Moscow music hall assault on Sunday.

After a Palm Sunday liturgy in Saint Peter's Square, the 87-year-old pontiff declared, "I assure you my prayers for the victims of the cowardly terrorist attack carried out the other evening in Moscow,"

"May the Lord welcome them in his peace and comfort their families, and convert the hearts of those... who organise and carry out these inhuman actions which offend God, who commanded 'Thou shalt not kill'."

In front of an estimated 25,000 people, the pontiff presided over Palm Sunday Mass. However, he spoke with a tremulous, weak voice and did not give his sermon as scheduled.
After church, though, he seemed upbeat as he drove around the piazza, grinning and waving to the people.

The pope contracted the illness last month and has since requested that others read his writings when he makes appearances.

Francis has had several health problems in the past several years, including hip and knee discomfort, an irritated colon, and surgery to repair a hernia last year.

Holy Week, during which the pope presides over several significant events leading up to Easter, the most significant holiday in Christianity began with Sunday's liturgical observance.

Francis didn't attend the customary Good Friday prayer ceremony known as the "Way of the Cross" last year for the first time.

He was suffering from a bronchitis illness that had kept him hospitalised for three nights at the time, and the weather was abnormally chilly.

End//voice7news 

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