Pope Francis made a public appearance in St. Peter’s Square to deliver his traditional Easter message, addressing thousands of faithful gathered to celebrate the holy day.
The 88-year-old pontiff, recently discharged from the hospital after a five-week stay, appeared visibly frail as he greeted the crowd from his wheelchair. Despite his condition, he warmly extended his Easter blessings, saying:
“Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter.”
In a moment that resonated strongly with the crowd, a member of the clergy read the Pope’s statement aloud as he sat beside him:
“There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for the views of others.”
This message arrives during a Jubilee Year, which began on December 24 when the Pope opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica—a symbolic act believed by Catholics to offer spiritual renewal and forgiveness of sins.
For the first time since becoming pope in 2013, Francis missed most Holy Week events, including the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, delegating those duties to cardinals due to his health.
