The Pope, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the war in Iran, expressed regret in a special message to thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square that people are "becoming accustomed to violence, resigning themselves to it, and growing indifferent." "May those who have weapons lay them down. May those who have the power to start wars choose peace," urged the first American Pope. In the message, known as the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing, the Pope did not mention any specific conflicts. It was unusually brief and direct, Reuters reported. The Pope said the story of Easter, when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead three days after not resisting his execution by crucifixion, shows that Christ was "completely nonviolent." "On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and ask the Lord to grant His peace to a world devastated by wars," appealed the Pope. Known for his careful choice of words, the Pope has strongly condemned violent conflicts around the world in recent weeks and intensified his criticism of the war in Iran. In his homily for the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, he urged people not to feel numb due to the scale of conflicts raging worldwide, but to work for peace. On Tuesday, he made a rare direct appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump, calling on him to find an "exit" to end the war in Iran. In his address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, the Pope delivered brief Easter greetings in ten languages, including Latin, Arabic, and Chinese. The Pope also announced that he will return to the Basilica on April 11 to hold a prayer vigil for peace.