Peace is not made with arms, says Pope
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has made a strong appeal for an end to wars in Gaza and Ukraine. “Peace is not made with arms,” he said in his traditional Easter message at the Vatican.
Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza - as well as for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
The Pope was leading ceremonies at the Vatican. Festivities have been taking place across the world to mark the most important festival in the Christian calendar - Easter.
Easter Sunday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the culmination of Holy Week, a major part of the Catholic calendar followed by 1.3 billion people.
Tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peter’s square to hear Pope Francis lead Easter Sunday Mass.
A day after pulling out of a ceremony at short notice, Pope Francis took part in a two-hour vigil at the Vatican on Saturday.
There had been renewed concern about his health when he did not participate in a Good Friday procession. But, the 87-year-old pontiff read a lengthy homily and carried out a number of baptisms.
The 87-year-old arrived in a wheelchair to preside over the mass from 10 hours in cloudy and windy weather, with the events broadcast live around the globe.
The pope on Saturday presided over the Easter Vigil at the Vatican in front of some 6, 000 people from around the world, a day after his last-minute cancellation at a major Good Friday procession revived questions about his health.
He delivered a 10-minute homily in Italian, speaking without any undue difficulty and condemning “the walls of selfishness and indifference” in the world.
At the end of the twoand-a-half-hour service he showed little sign of fatigue, taking time to greet and bless some of the worshippers.