• Pope Francis calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Easter Sunday appearance.
• The pontiff expressed solidarity with both Israeli and Palestinian people amidst ongoing conflict.
• His Easter message highlighted the “deplorable” humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Pope Francis reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a brief Easter Sunday appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica, as the pontiff continues to recover from pneumonia. The 88-year-old Pope, under doctors’ orders to limit his workload, did not preside over the Vatican's Mass for Easter but delivered a message known as the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world), which was read aloud by an aide, according to Channel News Asia.

In his Easter address, Pope Francis described the situation in Gaza as "dramatic and deplorable," urging all warring parties to come to the aid of “a starving people that aspires to a future of peace.” He stated, “I express my closeness to the sufferings... of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” and called on Hamas to release hostages, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis amidst the Israeli military campaign, which has claimed a staggering number of lives, as noted by Dawn.

Previously, Pope Francis had intensified his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, referring to the humanitarian conditions there as “very serious and shameful” as early as January. Since the escalation of conflict following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, local health authorities in Gaza have reported that over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the urgent need for international intervention to halt the violence, according to Al Jazeera.

The pontiff’s appearance on Easter Sunday was particularly significant as it marked the first major event he attended following a five-week hospitalization that he underwent for pneumonia, a condition that severely impacted his health and led to a waning of his voice, according to reports. Despite appearing frail, the Pope expressed, “I am living it as best I can,” alluding to his ongoing recuperation, conveyed by Dawn.

Additionally, earlier on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, exchanging holiday greetings. This meeting is noteworthy as it follows recent tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration concerning immigration policy, underscoring the Pope’s continual advocacy for humanitarian matters, as observed by Channel News Asia.