The head of the Catholic Church sat in a wheelchair and waved the cheering crowd from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and said, “Happy Easter, dear brothers and sisters.”
Pope Francis said in his speech: “Without religious freedom, freedom of thought, freedom of speech and respect for the views of others, there will be no peace.”
The Pope added: “The desire for death is very longing for it because we see killing in many conflicts around the world.”
The Pope prays for Gaza
The Pope remembers the Gaza people, especially their Christian population, as the conflict “caused death and destruction” and created a “tragic humanitarian situation.”
He further called the increasing concern of global anti-Semitism. “I expressed my intimacy with the pain…for all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” the news said. “Call the ceasefire, release the hostages, and with the help of hungry people who are eager for a peaceful future.” He also called on all parties involved in the Ukrainian war to “pursuing efforts aimed at achieving just and lasting peace.”
The pope stressed the “dramatic and sad” situation in Gaza and urged the Palestinian militant group Hamas to release its remaining hostages. “
Russia-Ukrainian War Focus
Pope Francis emphasized the significance of Easter, the happiest moment on the Christian liturgy calendar, when the resurrection of Christ was faithfully celebrated. Both Catholics and Orthodox Christians have shared this year’s celebrations in particular, which has announced a temporary Easter truce in the war in Ukraine.
During the traditional mass and the traditional masses conveyed by Archbishop Diego Ravelli and the Urbi et Orbi Blessing, the pope’s message covered the appeal of peace not only in Gaza and Ukraine in other conflict areas such as Congo and Myanmar. He pleaded: “May the rising Christ Grant Ukraine be destroyed by war, his gift of Easter peace, and encourage all parties concerned to pursue efforts aimed at achieving just and lasting peace.” He ended with hope of liberation: “In this jubilation, May Easter is also a suitable time to liberate prisoners of war and political prisoners!”
