Pope offers prayers for crisis in Libya

VATICAN CITY (CNS— Pope Benedict XVI said the “worrying news from Libya” in the past few days caused him “deep trepidation and fear,” and he kept the North African country’s people in his prayers during his Lenten retreat March 13-19.

As U.S., British and French military launched strikes against Libya’s air defenses yesterday and again this morning in a U.N.-approved effort to protect pro-democracy protesters from retaliation by Col. Moammar Gadhafi, the pope said he was following the events with great concern and praying for those involved in “the dramatic situation.”

Speaking to pilgrims gathered today in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday recitation of the Angelus, the pope said, “I address a pressing appeal to those who have political and military responsibilities” so they would take steps to ensure the safety of defenseless citizens and provide emergency assistance to those in need.

He also prayed that “peace and concord would soon reign over Libya and the entire north African region.”

Pope prays for victims of Libyan fighting, urges aid for growing humanitarian crisis

Pope Benedict XVI leads the Sunday Angelus prayer from the window of his private apartments at the Vatican March 6, 2011. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (VATICAN)

By The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday lamented the deaths and humanitarian crisis caused by the fighting in Libya between forces loyal to longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi and those demanding his ouster.

"My heartfelt thoughts go out to Libya, where recent clashes have caused many deaths and a growing humanitarian crisis," Benedict said in his first public comments on the fighting in the north African country.

"To all the victims and to those who find themselves in situations of anguish, I assure my prayers and my closeness, while I call for aid and help for the stricken populations," the pope said.

Last week, the pope was briefed at the Vatican by the head of the U.N. World Food Program on the crisis on the Libyan-Tunisian border, where tens of thousands of Egyptian and other immigrant workers have been massing after fleeing Libya.