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NO REPORTER NARRATION.

STORY: Pope Francis on Sunday (April 21) condemned attacks that killed at least 200 people in three churches and four hotels in Sri Lanka as "cruel violence" and said he was close to the Christian community, who were attacked while celebrating Easter.

The blasts followed a lull in major attacks since the end of the civil war 10 years ago.

"I wish to express my affectionate closeness to the Christian community, hit while it was gathered in prayer, and to all the victims of such cruel violence," said Francis, who visited Sri Lanka in 2015, as he told tens of thousands of people in St.

Peter's Square gathered to hear his Easter Sunday "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) message.