News Wrap: Pope prays for peace in Ukraine, Middle East in Easter address

William Brangham:

In other news today, Israeli war planes and artillery hit targets inside Syria in retaliation for rare rocket fire coming from Syria yesterday. Night vision video from Israel's defense force showed some of the strikes, including one on a Syrian military compound, but in Jerusalem, things remained calm as both Jews and Palestinians gathered for simultaneous religious rituals.

Hundreds of Jews prayed at the Western Wall for the Passover holiday. And at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound just above the Western Wall, Palestinians prayed as part of their observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

On this Easter Sunday, Pope Francis kept the Middle East in his prayers, appealing to Israelis and Palestinians to forge a quote climate of trust. Tens of thousands attended the Pope's traditional address in St Peter's Square. The pontiff spoke of troubles across the globe, including a message for Ukrainians and Russians as fighting over Russia's invasion continues into a second year.

Pope Francis, Leader of Catholic Church (through translator): Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia, comfort the wounded, and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families.

William Brangham:

Pope Francis appeared in good health. The 86-year-old pontiff was hospitalized for three days last week with bronchitis.

Workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract that gives them increased wages and better benefits. The vote comes after thousands of workers protested last month, causing schools in the nation's second largest school district to close for three days. The contract still needs approval from the District's Board of Education.

And a passing of note tonight, Benjamin Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg war trials has died. He was one of the first outside witnesses to document Nazi atrocities in their forced labor in concentration camps.

At age 27, and with no prior trial experience, Ferencz served as the chief prosecutor in the case against 22 Nazis, who led Hitler's roaming extermination squads, those 22 were responsible for killing an estimated 1 million Jews, Romani, and other people who are considered enemies of the Third Reich. Here's the portion of forensics opening statement at the 1947 Nuremberg trial.

Benjamin Ferecz, American Lawyer:

Vengeance is not our goal, nor do we seek merely adjust retribution. We asked this court to affirm by international penal action a man's right to live in peace and dignity regardless of his race or creed.

William Brangham:

All the defendants were convicted. Ferencz went on to fight to get compensation for victims and survivors of the Holocaust and to have their stolen goods returned. For decades, he also advocated for the creation of an International Criminal Court, which was eventually established in 2002. He pressed the United States to recognize and join that court, but it still hasn't. Benjamin Ferencz was 103 years old.

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