In brief Easter appearance at Vatican, Pope Francis urges Gaza ceasefire

Before being hospitalized with pneumonia, the pope had been increasingly vocal about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

During the Vatican’s open-air Easter Sunday mass, Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in Gaza in front of thousands of Catholic pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square. The 88-year-old pontiff, still recovering from a serious bout of double pneumonia, condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” caused by Israel’s 18-month war on the Palestinian territory.

Expressing solidarity with the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, the pope called on Hamas to release its captives and highlighted the concerning rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. He urged the warring parties to cease hostilities, release hostages, and assist a starving population striving for a peaceful future.

Francis, who had criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza as “very serious and shameful” in January before his hospitalization, was replaced by Cardinal Angelo Comastri during the Easter mass due to ongoing convalescence.

Despite his recent health struggles, the pope has made brief public appearances, including a visit to a prison in Rome where he refrained from participating in a traditional foot-washing ritual. He spoke of experiencing Easter week to the best of his ability when asked about his current condition.

Additionally, the Vatican disclosed that Francis met with United States Vice President JD Vance to exchange Easter greetings. Vance’s visit followed tensions between the pope and the Trump administration over immigration policies. Francis rejected Vance’s attempt to justify these policies using medieval Catholic teachings, emphasizing the importance of caring for all individuals.