Rome [Italy], April 10: Some 100,000 faithful joined Pope Francis for Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican, as the Pope used his traditional Easter message in St Peter's Square as an urgent appeal for peace and offered the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.
"Let us hasten to tread paths of peace and fraternity," the head of the Catholic Church said, addressing worshippers in the bright sunshine in front of St Peter's Basilica on Sunday.
In his message, the Pope marked the second wartime Easter for Ukraine, which has been under attack fromRussia since February 2022. The 86-year-old visibly moved, recalled the suffering on the ground and prayed for peace.
"Help the beloved Ukrainian people on the road to peace, and pour your Paschal [Easter] light on the Russian people," he said. "Comfort the wounded anthose who have lost loved ones to war, and let the prisoners return safely to their families." Francis urged the international community to work to end this war and all conflicts that "stain the world with blood." He also recalled the suffering in other war-torn and crisis-ridden regions, such as Lebanon, Haiti and South Sudan. Given the tensions in the Middle East, the Pope called on Israelis and Palestinians to engage in dialogue. He said people had to create trust - then peace would be possible. Major health concerns for the pontiff accompanied this year's Easter celebrations. The 86-year-old Argentinian, who also suffers from a knee condition, was recently treated in hospital for bronchitis. One day after leaving the hospital, he presided at the traditional Palm Sunday Mass last weekend.
The pontiff appeared to be still ailing after his hospital stay. He was still seen coughing occasionally during the celebrations, and his voice sounded tired at times. His knee condition, which has been bothering him for a long time, also meant the Pope could not stand for long. On Sunday, the pontiff followed most of the traditional Easter Mass from a seated position. Although the head of the Catholic Church officially presided over the service, it was celebrated by Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals. After the Mass, Francis was driven past the crowds in the Popemobile amid great jubilation - many of the faithful shouted in Italian, "Viva il Papa!" (Long live the Pope). In sunny but cool weather, the square was well-filled.
Source: Qatar Tribune
