VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in an Easter Sunday message read aloud by an aide as the pontiff, still recovering from pneumonia, looked on during a brief appearance on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The 88-year-old pope, limiting his workload on doctors’ orders, did not preside over the Vatican’s Mass for Easter but appeared at the end of the event for a twice-yearly blessing and message known as the “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world).

Before a five-week hospital stay for pneumonia, which nearly killed him, Francis had been ramping up criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave “very serious and shameful”.

In the Easter message, the pontiff said the situation in Gaza was “dramatic and deplorable”.

He also called on Hamas to release its remaining prisoners.

“I express my closeness to the sufferings ... of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace,” the message of Pope Francis read.

More than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. Of them, the Gaza health ministry says, 1,600 people have been killed during the past month alone.

US Vice President J.D. Vance, who has been visiting Italy over the weekend, earlier met Pope Francis at the Vatican before his Easter appearance.

The Vatican said the meeting with Vance was brief, “lasting a few minutes”, in order to exchange Easter greetings.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2025