The bad weather didn’t stop thousands of Catholics to attend the open-air Easter Mass held in St Peter's Square in Rome and to hear Pope Benedict XVI address on this occasion.

In his blessing "Urbi et Orbi"("to the city and the world"), the Pontiff called for reconciliation in the troubled regions of the world such as Iraq, the Holy Land, Sudan's troubled Darfur region and Somalia in Africa, and Tibet in Asia. The universal blessing, which is an Easter custom for the Pope, was broadcasted live in 57 countries.

"How can we fail to remember certain African regions, such as Darfur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon and finally Tibet, all of which I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the common good," Benedict XVI said.

During his speech, His Holiness also talked about the importance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. This is probably the key issue of Christianity and this is what Christians all over the world are commemorating and at the same time celebrating on Easter, the holiest day in the Church's liturgical calendar.

Pope Benedict also underlined that the relations between people aren’t based on love anymore, but rather on selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence.

After addressing the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, the Pope greeted the pilgrims that attended the Easter Mass in Vatican in more than 60 different languages.

It’s a custom to baptize adult converts during the Easter Mass and this time they were seven. Among them, His Holiness also baptized Magdi Allam, a 55-year-old journalist born in Egypt in the Muslim faith.

Mr Allam is deputy director of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. His baptism has sparked some controversy. He is a well-known critic of the Islamic extremism and a supporter of Israel in the Middle East issue. He is always accompanied by a police escort because the numerous threats he received.

Allam’s baptism was kept secret by the Vatican, until just before the vigil mass.