Pope leads thousands at Easter Mass

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Thousands of pilgrims and tourists packed into St Peter's Square to join in the service and later receive his blessing.

Choir boys voices rang across the square as the head of the Roman Catholic Church led the faithful in the celebration of the Christianity's most important feast day.

Wearing gold-coloured vestments, the pope gripped a slender, silver crucifix as clerics sprinkled incense across the steps.

The altar area was ablaze with colour - red tulips, orange tiger lilies and yellow broom plants were among the flowers delivered from the Netherlands.

The Vatican said that TV outlets in 67 countries had arranged satellite links for the Easter service.

After the celebrations, Pope Benedict heads to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, in the Alban Hills south of Rome, for a few days of rest.

When he returns to Rome, Benedict will have two more important dates on his calendar - his 80th birthday on April 16, and the second anniversary of his election as pope three days later.