VATICAN CITY (AP) 鈥 In an Easter message highlighting hope, Pope Francis on Sunday invoked prayers for both the Ukrainian and Russian people, praised nations which welcome refugees and called on Israelis and Palestinians wracked by the latest surge in deadly violence to forge a 鈥渃limate of trust.鈥
Francis, along with dozens of prelates and tens of thousands of faithful, celebrated Easter Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peter鈥檚 Square, affirming the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead days after his crucifixion.
The 86-year-old pontiff topped the celebration with a traditional speech about troubled places in the world. Encouraging 鈥渢rust among individuals, peoples and nations," Francis said Easter's joy 鈥渋llumines the darkness and gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.鈥
The pope's Easter message is known by its Latin name, 鈥漊rbi et Orbi," which means 鈥渢o the city and the world.鈥
Since in February 2022, Francis has repeatedly called for the fighting to end and sought prayers for the 鈥渕artyred鈥 Ukrainian people.
Ukrainian diplomats have complained that he hasn't come down hard enough in his statements on Russia and particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Vatican tries to avoid alienating Moscow.
鈥淗elp the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia,'' Francis implored God in his Easter speech, which he delivered while sitting in a chair on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica facing the square. 鈥滳omfort the wounded and all those because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families."
He urged the international community to work to end the war in Ukraine and 鈥渁ll conflict and bloodshed in the world, beginning , which still awaits peace.鈥
Francis also prayed for those who lost loved ones in an earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey two months ago, claiming tens of thousands of lives.
With a renewal in deadly violence affecting both Israelis and Palestinians in recent days, Francis called for a "resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region,'' a reference to Jerusalem.
But Francis also noted progress on some fronts.
鈥淟et us rejoice at the concrete signs of hope that reach us from so many countries, beginning with those that offers assistance and welcome to all fleeing war and poverty," he said, without naming any particular nations.
How to care for asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees, and whether to allow them entrance, is a raging political and social debate in much of Europe, as well in the United States and elsewhere.
Francis also prayed that national leaders 鈥渆nsure that no man or woman may encounter discrimination鈥 and that there would be 鈥渇ull respect for human rights and democracy.鈥
With migrants risking their lives in smugglers鈥 unseaworthy boats in hopes of reaching Europe, the pope lamented that Tunisia's people, particularly the young, struggle with social and economic hardship.
In the last two weeks, or were left missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia.
The pope included Lebanon and two African countries he visited this year - South Sudan and Congo - among the nations in need of ending divisions and building reconciliation.
Speaking about Haiti, he appealed to 鈥減olitical actors and the international community to seek a definitive solution to the many problems that afflict that sorely tried people.鈥
The bloody conflicts cited by Francis contrasted with a riot of bright colors lent by orange-red tulips, yellow sprays of forsythia and daffodils, hyacinths and other colorful seasonal flowers that decorated St. Peter's Square. The blooms were trucked in trucks from the Netherlands.
By the end of the pope's appearance, some 100,00 people had flocked to the square in time for the pontiff's speech, according to the Vatican's crowd count.
A canopy on the edge of steps on the square sheltered the pontiff, who was back in the public eye for the Mass 12 hours after a 2.25-hour long Easter vigil ceremony in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica the night before.
Francis was hospitalized March 29-April 1 for treatment of bronchitis. Still recovering, he skipped the traditional Good Friday procession at Rome鈥檚 Colosseum due to unseasonably cold nighttime temperatures.
Near the end of the more than two-hour-long Easter Sunday appearance, Francis seemed to run out of steam. His voice grew hoarse and he interrupted his speech at one point to cough.
He nonetheless made several laps through the square in the popemobile after the Mass, waving and smiling at cheering well-wishers.
