Pope Francis makes public appearance in Vatican in wheelchair

On Easter Sunday, the 88-year-old Pope Francis made his first public appearance in St. Peter's Square in a wheelchair since suffering from double pneumonia, greeting tens of thousands of Catholics after an Easter mass at the Vatican.

This was reported by Reuters.

People lined the aisles of the square, many holding national flags and shouting "viva il papa!" (Long live the Pope!). Papal aides carried babies out of the crowd for Francis to bless. The Pope gestured with his hands, but only lifted them slightly.

Francis, who had limited his workload on doctors' orders, did not lead the Easter mass at the Vatican, but appeared at the end of the event to give his twice-yearly blessing and address the message known as "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World).

In an Easter message read by the Pope's assistant, looking at him from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pontiff repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

"I express my closeness to the suffering ... of the entire Israeli and Palestinian people. ... I appeal to the warring parties: I call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the assistance of the starving people who yearn for a peaceful future," the message says.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, due to Pope Francis' recovery from illness, several cardinals led Easter services in the Vatican on his instructions.

As a reminder, on February 22 it became known that the pontiff had suffered a prolonged respiratory crisis and is in critical condition.

On February 25, doctors reported that the Pope is in critical but stable condition.

On March 7, Pope Francis recorded an audio message and thanked everyone who supported and worried about him. And on March 23, Pope Francis appeared before the faithful for the first time since his hospitalization from the balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital, before leaving the facility where he had been staying since February 14.