Pope Benedict XVI criticized harshly suffering in the world, lamenting the "continual slaughter'' in Iraq and expressing worry over unrest and instability in Afghanistan in his Easter message on Sunday.

"In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestine Authority, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees,'' the Pope said in St. Peter's Square.

Delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi'' Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists listened in the square, the pontiff noted "how many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world.''

Earlier he celebrated Easter Sunday Mass on the flower-adorned steps of St. Peter's Basilica.

Benedict ended his appearance by giving Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and giving the crowd his apostolic blessing.

The Vatican said that TV outlets in 67 countries had arranged satellite links for the Easter service.

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