Pope hopes Northern Ireland accord can be 'consolidated' to benefit all Ireland

Pope Francis arrives to attend the Easter Sunday mass at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Monday he was praying that the Good Friday agreement signed 25 years ago that largely ended violence in Northern Ireland can be "consolidated" to benefit the people of all of Ireland.

Francis made the comment about the 1998 agreement, which has come under strain following Britain's exit from the European Union, in his noon address on Easter Monday to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.