Vatican: Pope Francis has once again urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli captives. The Pope’s plea came during his address on Easter Day, the most significant day in the Christian calendar.
The Pope conducted a mass in a crowded St. Peter’s Square and later delivered his ‘Urbi et Orbi’ (to the city and the world) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid be ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip. Let us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,” Pope Francis said.
In the Easter Day special speech Bishop of Rome also mentioned the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking.
Pope stated that, “How much suffering we see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in those war zones. With their eyes, children ask us; Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat.”
Recently, Pope Francis, the ruler of Vatican City, suffered from poor health, limiting his public speaking engagements and cancelling engagements. He skipped the Good Friday procession to the Colosseum in Rome due to ill health.
Despite his illness, the Pope participated in other Holy Week events leading up to Easter and seemed to be in good spirits during Sunday’s mass. Easter is celebrated as the day when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead.
Following the service, the Pope rode in his open-topped popemobile to tour the square and the streets linking the Vatican to the River Tiber. He greeted tens of thousands of people who gathered to see him.
This year, the Vatican ruler mentioned that his thoughts were mainly with the people in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as all those facing war. He expressed concern about the children who were affected by the conflict and lost the capacity to smile. Pope Francis frequently criticised the death and destruction forced by the Gaza war.
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