The pope said the population of Gaza, especially the children, were at the “limit of its endurance.”
Topline
Pope Francis again called for an “immediate cease-fire” between Israel and Hamas and a “prompt release” of the remaining hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group on October 7 while addressing the crowds at St. Peter’s Square for his Easter message on Sunday.Key Facts
The pope spoke to a crowd of about 60,000 people gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, where he focused a large portion of his homily shining a light on the plight of people in war-torn nations, adding “may the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions.”
Francis called for more humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, the release of all Israeli hostages and an immediate cease-fire, while also offering thoughts for the Lebanese people caught in the simmering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The pope also called for a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine—about two years after he first called for an “Easter truce,” and using his Easter message to advocate for an end to the conflict in 2022 and 2023.
