Brutal Israeli Attacks in Gaza Deeply Painful, Calls for Ceasefire in Easter Sunday Message – Pope Francis
According to Al Jazeera, during a brief appearance for Easter Sunday prayers under the open sky in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in Gaza, addressing thousands of Catholic pilgrims.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who recently spent five weeks in hospital due to severe pneumonia, appeared from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, while his traditional Easter message, "Urbi et Orbi" (Latin for “To the City and the World”), was read aloud by Cardinal Angelo Comastri.
In his message, the Pope said:
“I express my solidarity with the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.”
He described Israel’s 18-month-long military campaign in Gaza as a “shameful humanitarian disaster.”
Pope Francis also called on Hamas to release all remaining hostages and described the global rise in antisemitism as “alarming.”
“I urge the warring parties: declare a ceasefire, release the hostages, and help the starving people in the hope of a peaceful future,” he said.
Al Jazeera’s Vatican correspondent, James Bays, reported:
“This is a man who was seriously ill—38 days in the hospital, suffering from double pneumonia and kidney issues. At one point, doctors feared he might not survive.”
Currently on a two-month rest as advised by his doctors, Pope Francis has maintained a limited presence during Easter week. He recently visited a prison in Rome but refrained from performing the traditional ‘Washing of the Feet’ ceremony.
Meanwhile, a Vatican statement confirmed that the Pope held a private meeting on Sunday morning with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, during which they exchanged Easter greetings.
This visit comes at a time of sharp disagreements between the Pope and the Donald Trump administration over immigration and foreign aid policies. Pope Francis has called Trump’s planned immigration policies “shameful”, and in a rare open letter to American bishops, he stated:
“No, we must care for everyone—not just those closest to us.”
