Pope Francis at the Western Wall. Photo: Kobi Gideon / GPO.

JNS.org – In his Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis issued a prayer that the framework deal reached between Iran and p5+1 powers last week would prove to be successful.

“In hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world,” Pope Francis said, Reuters reported.

The Pontiff also addressed last Thursday’s massacre of Christian students in Garissa University in Kenya by the Islamist terror group al-Shabaab. Nearly 150 people were murdered, most because they were Christians.

“We ask Jesus, the victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence – and there are many,” Pope Francis said.

“May constant prayer rise up from all people of goodwill for those who lost their lives – I think in particular of the young people who were killed last Thursday at Garissa University College in Kenya – for all who have been kidnapped, and for those forced to abandon their homes and their dear ones,” he added.