VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, condemning the dire humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s military campaign.
Speaking during his Easter address from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the 88-year-old pontiff—still recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia—urged global solidarity with both Palestinians and Israelis.
Although visibly frail and unable to deliver the full message himself, the pope’s benediction, Urbi et Orbi (“to the city and the world”), was read aloud by an aide.
It included a heartfelt plea to end the suffering in Gaza after 18 months of war and highlighted a growing global concern over anti-Semitism.
“I express my closeness to the sufferings … of all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people,” read the statement.
“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 pope also denounced the continuing captivity of hostages by the Palestinian group Hamas and warned against the rising tide of anti-Semitism worldwide.
His words follow months of increasingly vocal criticism of Israel’s military operations, which he had previously described as “shameful.”
Francis has been under medical orders to rest since being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on March 23 after a five-week stay.
He was replaced during Sunday’s Mass by Cardinal Angelo Comastri but made a brief balcony appearance, a decision that sparked concern among observers.
Francis has nonetheless made short appearances in recent days, including a visit to a Roman prison where he abstained from performing the traditional foot-washing ceremony.
Asked about his condition during Easter week, the pope remarked simply: “I am living it as best I can.”
Meanwhile, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis held a private meeting with US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday morning to exchange Easter greetings.
The visit followed high-level discussions on Saturday between Vance and top Vatican officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
The visit came amid diplomatic tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration.
Pope Francis had recently rebuked the administration’s immigration policies, describing mass deportation efforts and cuts to welfare programmes as a “disgrace.”
He also publicly rejected Vance’s invocation of medieval Catholic doctrine to justify nationalist immigration policies, emphasizing a universal moral duty to care for all, not just those “closest to home.”
In a rare move, Francis addressed the issue in a letter to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, stating unequivocally: “You need to think about everyone.”
