Pope Francis called for humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip this Easter. He also demanded the release of the Hamas hostages and a ceasefire. After the Easter message he gave the blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.
It was a political Easter message: Given the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, Pope Francis called for more humanitarian aid. Guaranteed access is needed, he said in front of 60,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.
From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 87-year-old also demanded an immediate release of the Israeli hostages from the grip of the radical Islamic Hamas and a ceasefire. “War is always an absurdity; war is always a defeat,” the Pope said firmly. Above all, however, they called for an end to the ongoing fighting – especially for the well-being of the children. “How much suffering we see in their eyes. Their looks ask us: Why? Why so much death? Why so much destruction?”
Blessing “Urbi et Orbi”
Francis also commented on the war in Ukraine. “I call for respect for the principles of international law and hope for a comprehensive exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for all!”
In the Easter message, the Pope usually focuses on conflicts and wars and calls for peace and reconciliation. This year he also remembered Syria, Lebanon, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Haiti and Myanmar, as well as the African continent. Francis’ appeals for peace were punctuated by applause from the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.
After the Easter message, the head of the church gave the blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city of Rome and the world). The blessing is one of the most famous rituals of the Catholic Church. It is donated at Christmas and Easter.
Mass in St. Peter’s Square
Francis had previously celebrated the big mass for Easter Sunday in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The head of the Catholic Church officially presided over the traditional Easter mass, but it was celebrated by a high-ranking clergyman. Around 30,000 people were in the forecourt of St. Peter’s Basilica at the beginning of the mass. The 87-year-old reached the altar in a wheelchair and remained seated during the service.
After Mass, Francis was driven past the crowds in the Popemobile to great cheers – many believers loudly shouted “Viva il Papa!” (Long live the Pope). With temperatures up to 20 degrees and strong winds, the place was well filled. As every year, St. Peter’s Square was decorated with numerous flowers and plants.
worry about health status
The Pope is in poor health. He therefore canceled his participation in the traditional Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome at short notice on Good Friday, which fueled speculation about his health.
Joy and hope
On Saturday evening, the 87-year-old delivered the sermon in St. Peter’s Basilica while sitting in a wheelchair in front of around 6,000 believers. In it he spoke of the “walls of selfishness and indifference” in the world and the “longing for peace that is broken by the ruthlessness of hatred and the cruelty of war.”
Regardless of global political crises, he called for joy and hope. These crises are “boulders of death,” said the head of the Catholic Church in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. According to Francis’ words, Easter is intended to encourage people and give hope: “This is the power of God: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the re-blooming of hope amid the rubble of failure.” After Holy Week, the Easter Vigil is an occasion for joy.
Stubborn ones Respiratory infection
For the Pope, the Easter days mean a strain on his health. He has been suffering from the effects of a persistent respiratory infection for months. He clearly finds it difficult to speak for long periods of time. At public appearances, his employees often had to recite the prepared texts.
Last year – shortly before Easter – he was plagued by bronchitis, for which he had to be treated in hospital for a few days. A few months later, Francis had to undergo abdominal surgery. Last year, after recovering from bronchitis, the Pope had to forego attending the Stations of the Cross outdoor service at the Colosseum for a short time. It was the first time since the beginning of his pontificate in 2013 that a Stations of the Cross took place without Francis.