Pope Francis used his Easter message to call for the truth about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and appealed for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians following

recent violence. The 86-year-old Pope presided over a solemn Easter day Mass at St. Peter's Square, which was decorated with 38,000 flowers donated by the Netherlands. Francis had to skip an outdoor service on Friday due to unseasonal cold following his hospitalization for bronchitis at the end of March.

During his twice-yearly "Urbi et Orbi" message, delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope spoke of the darkness and gloom that often envelops the world and prayed for peace. He called for the beloved Ukrainian people to be helped on their journey towards peace and asked God to "shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia" while referring to Ukraine as "martyred" due to Russia's aggression and atrocities.

The Pope also appealed for the wounded and those who have lost loved ones due to the war to be comforted, and for the entire international community to end the conflict and bloodshed in the world. As he has done every Easter, Francis called for peace in the Middle East and expressed deep worry over recent violence in Jerusalem and cross-border exchanges of fire involving Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.

Francis asked God to remember all who are prevented from freely and publicly professing their faith and mentioned instability in Lebanon, expressing hope that the "martyred Rohingya people" of Myanmar "may encounter justice". The Pope also called for more aid for the victims of earthquakes in February that killed nearly 56,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

Between the Mass and his reading of the message, the Pope was driven in a popemobile around the square and down the main boulevard leading to the River Tiber, so more people could see him. Despite the traditional pomp and sacred singing, Francis addressed modern realities during his message, reflecting on the troubled places around the world.

Overall, the Pope's Easter message called for peace and reconciliation among all people and nations. He urged the world to shed the darkness and gloom and to embrace the light of Easter in order to find a way towards peace and love. The message also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by various parts of the world and the need for continued prayers, aid, and dialogue to resolve conflicts and promote peace. Photo by Edgar Jiménez from Porto, Portugal, Wikimedia commons.