In an Easter Sunday address, Pope Francis urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages.
He delivered his message after presiding over Mass in a crowded St. Peter's Square and offering his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
"I appeal once again that access to humanitarian aid is ensured to Gaza, and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages seized on last October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip," he said in his Urbi et Orbi address.
‘’How much suffering we see in the eyes of children, the children have forgotten to smile in those war zones. With their eyes, children ask us: Why? Why all this death? Why all this destruction? War is always an absurdity and a defeat", he added
Francis, in his condemnation of human trafficking, expressed a profound concern for the victims of this abhorrent practice. He extended his prayers for "a path of hope" to those enduring the hardships of violence, hunger, and the devastating impacts of climate change, emphasizing the need for optimism amidst adversity. Additionally, he sought solace and consolation for all those affected by terrorism, highlighting the universal nature of this menace and its various forms of violence inflicted upon innocent individuals worldwide.