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Pope Francis thankful for final Easter appearance before passing, Vatican reports

Venus L Peñaflor
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Pope Francis thankful for final Easter appearance before passing, Vatican reports

VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, was reportedly thankful that he was able to greet a crowd of 50,000 faithful in St. Peter’s Square during Easter, despite initial doubts about his physical condition, Vatican News reported.

The beloved Argentine pontiff, who had been recovering from a five-week hospitalization due to pneumonia, made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday. Riding in his popemobile around St. Peter’s Square, he blessed the crowd and reached out to touch the hands of children and pilgrims, his first interaction with the public since leaving the hospital.

According to Vatican News, the pope had hesitated about making the appearance, asking his personal healthcare assistant, Massimiliano Strappetti, “Do you think I can manage it?” Upon receiving reassurance, he proceeded with the ride and afterward told Strappetti, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square.”

The following morning, Pope Francis reportedly began showing signs of illness at around 5:30 a.m. and fell into a coma by 6:30 a.m.

His Easter appearance from the loggia — the same place where he had been introduced as the first Latin American pope on March 13, 2013 — marked a poignant and symbolic closure to his 12-year papacy. Throughout his tenure, he championed reforms aimed at bringing the Church closer to the marginalized and emphasized its mission of compassion and service.

Funeral Arrangements

Pope Francis will lie in state beginning Wednesday at St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands are expected to pay their final respects. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square and will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals.

Among the international dignitaries expected to attend are U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Argentine President Javier Milei.

In line with Church protocol, the conclave to elect Francis’ successor is set to begin between May 5 and 10.

Tributes from Vatican Officials

“He truly gave everything he had, up to the end,” said Sister Nathalie Becquart, one of the highest-ranking women in the Vatican. Recalling his last public moment, she added, “He really walked with his people.”

Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, former head of the Vatican’s Council for Culture, highlighted Francis’ enduring legacy in promoting the role of women within the Church. He emphasized the pope’s final wish to be buried not beneath St. Peter’s Basilica as tradition dictates, but at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, close to his favorite icon of the Madonna, Salus Populi Romani.

“He wanted to be buried under the shadow of a woman, in this case Maria,” said Ravasi. “That is significant, his desire for the church to do more for women.”

Images released Tuesday show the late pope in red vestments and a bishop’s miter, resting peacefully in a wooden casket inside the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta residence, where he lived and died.

Pope Francis’ final wish, stated in his will, was to rest eternally beneath the Byzantine-style image of the Virgin Mary, an icon he visited before and after every foreign trip. On March 23, just after being released from Gemelli Hospital, he made a final stop at the basilica to leave flowers and returned once more on April 12 to pray.

As tributes pour in from around the world, the memory of Pope Francis’ final blessing on Easter Sunday stands as a testament to a life lived in humble service and a papacy that forever changed the Church.

Mahigit 57,000 inaprubahan ng Comelec sa local absentee voting para sa Halalan 2025

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Mahigit 57,000 inaprubahan ng Comelec sa local absentee voting para sa Halalan 2025

MAYNILA. Inaprubahan ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang kabuuang 57,689 na aplikante para sa Local Absentee Voting (LAV) kaugnay ng nalalapit na National at Local Elections sa Mayo 2025.

Batay sa datos mula sa Committee on Local Absentee Voting, ang mga aprubadong aplikante ay binubuo ng mga miyembro ng media, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), at mga kawani mula sa iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan.

Pinakamalaki ang bilang mula sa AFP, na may 29,030 na aprubadong botante—binubuo ng 26,626 na lalaki at 2,404 na babae. Sa kabuuang bilang na ito:

  • 26,024 ay mula sa Philippine Army,
  • 2,908 mula sa Philippine Air Force, at
  • 98 mula sa Philippine Navy.

Sinundan ito ng PNP na may 23,448 aprubadong botante, kabilang ang 18,072 lalaki at 5,376 babae.

Para naman sa sektor ng media, 1,005 miyembro ang pinayagang makaboto sa pamamagitan ng LAV, kabilang ang 524 lalaki at 481 babae.

Itinalaga rin ng Comelec ang mga lugar ng pagboto para sa media:

  • Ang mga mula sa NCR-based media ay boboto sa Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED) ng NCR.
  • Para sa media sa highly urbanized cities sa labas ng NCR, sa kani-kanilang Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) office ang botohan.
  • Ang media naman sa ibang lugar ay boboto sa Offices of the Election Officer (OEO).

Kabilang din sa mga aprubadong LAV voters ang:

  • Department of Education (DepEd) – 1,290 botante
  • Comelec personnel – 922 botante
  • Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – 707 botante

Ang Local Absentee Voting ay isasagawa mula Abril 28 hanggang Abril 30, 2025, sa loob ng kani-kanilang opisina.

Binigyang-diin ng Comelec na ang mekanismong ito ay mahalaga upang masiguro na makaboboto pa rin ang mga essential service workers na hindi makararating sa regular na botohan dahil sa kanilang tungkulin sa mismong araw ng halalan.

“Ang Local Absentee Voting ay isang paraan upang mapanatili ang karapatan sa pagboto ng mga lingkod-bayan at mamamahayag na nagtatrabaho para sa kapakanan ng publiko kahit sa araw ng halalan,” ayon sa Comelec.

Vatican releases first images of Pope Francis in open casket; funeral set for saturday

Venus L Peñaflor
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Vatican releases first images of Pope Francis in open casket; funeral set for saturday

The Vatican has released the first official images of Pope Francis in an open coffin during the solemn rite of certification of death held Monday night at the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, his residence in Vatican City.

According to Vatican News, “during the rite, the declaration of death was read aloud. The act was validated by Cardinal Farrell, and the ceremony lasted just under an hour.”

The rite, a traditional Vatican procedure to formally certify the death of a pope, took place in a private and prayerful setting, attended by key Vatican officials.

Further details regarding the public viewing of the Pope’s remains are expected later today. However, the Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis’s coffin will be transferred from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, where it will remain for public veneration until the funeral.

In a statement released earlier today, the Vatican confirmed that the funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square. The funeral liturgy will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals.

Following the funeral rites, Pope Francis’s coffin will be carried into St. Peter’s Basilica and subsequently to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for burial, in accordance with his personal wishes.

Pope Francis, known globally for his advocacy of humility, peace, and interfaith dialogue, leaves behind a profound legacy that has shaped the modern Catholic Church. His funeral is expected to draw world leaders, religious figures, and faithful from across the globe.

Pope Francis in his open coffin during the rite of the Confirmation of the Death of the Pontiff. Credit: AFP
Rosary beads attached to Pope Francis’s hands as he lies in an open coffin in the Vatican Credit: AFP

Balikatan 2025, umarangkada na

Venus L Peñaflor
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Balikatan 2025, umarangkada na

MAYNILA. Pormal nang sinimulan nitong Lunes, Abril 21, ang ika-40 edisyon ng taunang Balikatan war games sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos, na may temang BK 40-25, kung saan inaasahang magsasagawa ng full battle scenario sa ilang piling lugar sa bansa, partikular sa Luzon.

Pinangunahan mismo ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. ang pagbubukas ng malawakang military exercise.

Ayon sa AFP, nasa 6,000 tropa ng Pilipinas ang kalahok sa war drills habang nasa 12,000 naman mula sa United States Armed Forces. Bukod dito, nakiisa rin ang mga sundalo mula sa iba’t ibang bansang kaalyado: Australia (200 personnel), Japan (56), United Kingdom (11), France (2), at Canada (2).

Samantala, labing-anim (16) na bansa ang nagsisilbing observers sa war games: Brunei, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, at Vietnam.

Isa sa mga tampok ngayong taon ay ang pagpapakita ng makabagong kakayahan ng Estados Unidos sa pamamagitan ng deployment ng “NMESIS” (Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System) anti-ship missile system. Idedeploy ito malapit sa isang mahalagang chokepoint sa hilagang bahagi ng Luzon bilang bahagi ng pagpapalakas ng maritime defense.

Kabilang sa mga battle scenarios na isasagawa ay ang missile defense, counter-landing live fire exercise, maritime strike, maritime key terrain security operations, at isang multilateral maritime event kung saan inaasahang lalakas ang ugnayan ng mga kasaping bansa sa larangan ng seguridad.

Magtatagal ang Balikatan 2025 hanggang Mayo 9, at layon nitong patatagin ang interoperability at mutual defense capabilities ng Pilipinas at ng mga kaalyado nito sa gitna ng tumitinding tensyon sa Indo-Pacific region.

Putin expresses willingness to engage in direct peace negotiations with Ukraine

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Putin expresses willingness to engage in direct peace negotiations with Ukraine

MOSCOW/KYIV. For the first time in years, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine, signaling a potential shift in the long-stalled peace process. The move comes amid mounting international pressure and follows a fragile Easter truce that lasted just 30 hours before both sides accused each other of violations.

Speaking to Russian state TV reporter Pavel Zarubin, Putin said Moscow was open to any peace initiatives, including discussions with Ukraine aimed at halting attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way,”
Putin said.

This is the most direct signal from the Kremlin in years that it is willing to return to the negotiating table for one-on-one discussions, a format largely abandoned since the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov further clarified Putin’s position, telling the Interfax news agency:

“When the president said that it was possible to discuss the issue of not striking civilian targets, including bilaterally, the president had in mind negotiations and discussions with the Ukrainian side.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded in his nightly video address, reiterating Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue focused on halting attacks on civilians.

“Ukraine maintains its proposal not to strike at the very least civilian targets. And we are expecting a clear response from Moscow,” he said.
“We are ready for any conversation about how to achieve this.”

Zelenskiy emphasized that this week’s scheduled talks in London, with participation from U.S. and European officials, have a primary goal:

“The primary task is to push for an unconditional ceasefire. This must be the starting point.”

Earlier on Monday, Zelenskiy also said that an unconditional ceasefire should be followed by “the establishment of a real and lasting peace.”

Both Russia and Ukraine have indicated openness to further ceasefires following the short-lived Easter truce announced unilaterally by Moscow. However, skirmishes quickly resumed, with both sides trading blame for breaking the truce. Washington has said it supports an extension of the ceasefire but warned that its patience is running thin.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a joint statement Friday suggesting that the United States might pull out of its mediation role if no tangible progress is made “within days.” However, on Sunday, Trump struck a more optimistic tone, saying he hoped the two sides would reach a deal “this week.”

Zelenskiy warned that Russia’s continued strikes during the brief ceasefire suggested that Moscow was not serious about ending the war. He reiterated Ukraine’s policy of responding proportionally to Russian aggression:

“The nature of Ukraine’s actions will remain symmetrical: ceasefire will be met with ceasefire, and Russian strikes will be met with our own in defence. Actions always speak louder than words,”
he posted on X.

Despite Putin’s remarks, Russia’s peace demands remain a significant obstacle. The Kremlin insists Ukraine must cede all the territory Russia has claimed to annex and adopt a stance of permanent neutrality, terms Kyiv rejects as tantamount to surrender and vulnerability to future aggression.

Still, the Kremlin remains hopeful, according to Peskov:

“President Putin and the Russian side remain open to seeking a peaceful settlement. We are continuing to work with the American side and, of course, we hope that this work will yield results.”

As international efforts to end the war gather momentum, the coming days in London may prove pivotal. Whether these signals of openness will translate into substantive steps toward peace remains to be seen.

PNP, bumuo ng special committees laban sa kidnapping at fake news

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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PNP, bumuo ng special committees laban sa kidnapping at fake news

MAYNILA. Bilang tugon sa lumalalang banta ng kidnapping at pagkalat ng maling impormasyon sa bansa, opisyal nang inilunsad ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang dalawang espesyal na komite: ang Joint Anti-Kidnapping Action Committee (JAKAC) at ang Joint Anti-Fake News Action Committee (JAFNAC).

Pangungunahan ni Police Lieutenant General Edgar Alan Okubo, Deputy Chief PNP for Investigation (TDCI), ang JAKAC na may mandato na tutukan ang pagtukoy, pag-imbestiga, at pag-neutralisa sa mga sindikatong sangkot sa kidnap-for-hire operations sa Pilipinas.

Samantala, si Police Lieutenant General Robert Rodriguez, Deputy Chief PNP for Operations (TDCO), naman ang mamumuno sa JAFNAC. Layunin ng komiteng ito na labanan ang pagkalat ng fake news o pekeng balita “that threaten public trust, peace, and national stability.”

“These committees are not just organizational measures—they are proactive responses to modern-day threats. From kidnap-for-hire syndicates to digital disinformation campaigns, the PNP is moving decisively to protect our people. This is our commitment to Bagong Pilipinas—ensuring that law and truth prevail,” pahayag ni PNP Chief, Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.

Ang pagkakatatag ng JAKAC ay kasunod ng matagumpay na pagresolba sa kaso ng kidnapping at pagpatay sa negosyanteng si Anson Que at sa kaniyang driver na si Armanie Pabillo. Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng PNP, ang krimen ay isinagawa ng isang kidnap-for-hire group na pinamumunuan umano ng isang Chinese national na si David Tan Liao.

Tiniyak ni Gen. Marbil na patuloy ang PNP sa pagpapatupad ng mga konkretong hakbang upang mapanatili ang seguridad at integridad ng impormasyon sa bansa, kasabay ng adhikain ng administrasyong Bagong Pilipinas.

Global Catholic community mourns the death of Pope Francis

Venus L Peñaflor
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Global Catholic community mourns the death of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY. Shock and sorrow rippled through the global Catholic community on Monday as news broke of Pope Francis’s death at age 88. Beloved by many for his humility and compassion, the Argentine pontiff is being remembered as a shepherd who championed the marginalized and worked tirelessly for unity and peace.

At the Vatican, tourists and pilgrims gathered for Holy Week were left stunned by the news. Just the day before, Pope Francis had greeted crowds from his open-topped popemobile on Easter Sunday, with chants of “Viva il Papa!” echoing through St. Peter’s Square.

“He appeared in public yesterday, looked healthy. I was so shocked, and sad of course,” said Father Bachai, a retired priest from the United States, speaking from the Vatican.

In Buenos Aires, his hometown where he once served as archbishop, Argentinians awoke to the somber news. Nicolas Cordoba, a local resident, expressed deep grief: “It hurts me like crazy, it hurts me a lot because I agreed, more than anything, with his words in support of bisexuals, and homosexuals.” Dozens attended a special Mass held at the Buenos Aires cathedral.

“The truth is, I wasn’t surprised. He was clearly very ill. I think he made a great effort to make it to Easter, which is the great festival for Christians,” said Jorgelina Ventura, a 53-year-old lawyer, reflecting on the pope’s final public appearance.

In the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo, faithful Catholics also paid tribute to Pope Francis. “The pope really cared about our country, Congo, with the repeated wars we are going through,” said Faida Nabintu, a worshipper in Bukavu, a city held by rebels.

At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, 25-year-old German pilgrim David Sieben, who had just completed a nine-month journey on foot, prayed for Francis’ legacy to continue. “I pray that the next pope can continue in the footsteps of our beloved Francis and carry on a unity between Orthodox and Catholic,” he said.

Others hoped for fresh leadership but maintained deep respect for Francis’ work. “I think it would bring a breath of fresh air to this whole episcopate and papacy,” said Peter Ladweg while pausing during a run in Berlin.

In South Korea, a nation once visited by Francis, Catholic Ho remembered the pontiff’s response during national tragedy. “When the world is facing complex challenges, the Pope always cares about that, and I always feel deepest gratitude in my heart for him,” Ho said, recalling the Pope’s prayers for victims of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that claimed 304 lives.

From Poland, Beata Wolska, a pensioner, praised the Pope’s simplicity and humility. “Holiness is about the way one lives, not about what one thinks of oneself,” she said, referencing Francis’ wish to be buried in a simple wooden coffin in a Roman basilica instead of the Vatican.

In Rio de Janeiro, Rosane Ribeiro called Pope Francis “unique and extraordinary.” She said, “As a priest, he got up every day to pray for the world. He was simply a 10, and died at a marvellous and beautiful time (Easter), worthy of him.”

Meanwhile, in Nairobi, Kenya, worshipper Rosemary Mushayi reflected on the Pope’s universal reach. “He was a man who reached out to the whole world, not just Catholics. He was a man who had a heart for the weak and the poor,” she said.

At noon in Rome, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled solemnly. A hush fell over the gathered crowd.

“We saw him here, he was just driven by in the car,” said Letizia Bartocci, who works in a jewelry shop near the square. “It was shocking news this morning.”

As tributes pour in from all corners of the world, one thing is clear—Pope Francis, through his humility, compassion, and unwavering faith, leaves behind a legacy that transcends religious boundaries.

Pope Francis dies at 88: A pontificate that challenged tradition and championed the marginalized

Venus L Peñaflor
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Pope Francis dies at 88: A pontificate that challenged tradition and championed the marginalized

Pope Francis has died, Vatican says in video statement

VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a figure who both inspired admiration and provoked deep division within the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Monday through a solemn video statement.

“At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father,” the Vatican said, confirming the end of a historic papacy marked by reform, global outreach, and internal controversy. The Pope had recently battled a severe case of double pneumonia, from which he had initially recovered.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, following the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His election stunned Church observers, as he was seen as an outsider to the Vatican’s traditional power structures. Known for his humility and concern for the poor, Francis immediately set a different tone for the papacy.

Rejecting the grand papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, Francis chose instead to live in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, citing his “psychological health” and a desire for community life. His symbolic gestures and straightforward style resonated with many around the world, even as they unsettled traditionalists within the Church.

He inherited a deeply troubled institution rocked by scandals, particularly those involving clerical sex abuse, and infighting within the Curia, the Church’s administrative body. Tasked with cleaning house and restoring moral authority, Pope Francis embarked on an ambitious reform agenda — one that was met with both praise and resistance.

Throughout his papacy, Francis faced fierce opposition from conservatives who accused him of undermining centuries-old traditions. At the same time, some progressives expressed frustration that his reforms did not go far enough in modernizing the Church’s teachings and structures.

Despite the internal discord, Pope Francis became a global moral voice. He tirelessly advocated for interfaith dialogue, environmental stewardship, and social justice, frequently championing the cause of the world’s marginalized, especially migrants and the poor.

During much of his tenure, the Vatican was home to two living popes. After Benedict XVI’s resignation in 2013, he remained within the Vatican walls, dressed in white, until his death in December 2022. Benedict’s continued presence served as a symbolic reminder of the Church’s ideological rift.

By February 2025, Pope Francis had appointed nearly 80% of the cardinals eligible to elect the next pope, significantly shaping the ideological future of the papacy. This has raised the likelihood that his successor may carry forward his progressive legacy, despite persistent resistance from conservative factions.

As tributes pour in from around the world, Pope Francis leaves behind a complex legacy, one of compassion and controversy, reform and resistance. His death marks the end of an era for a Church still wrestling with its past and its path forward.

Tumanggi ang ICC sa hiling ng kampo ni Duterte na higpitan ang verification process ng mga biktima sa war on drugs probe

DC Alviar
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Tumanggi ang ICC sa hiling ng kampo ni Duterte na higpitan ang verification process ng mga biktima sa war on drugs probe

MAYNILA. Tinanggihan ng International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber ang kahilingan ng kampo ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na higpitan ang proseso ng pag-verify sa mga biktimang nais lumahok sa imbestigasyon kaugnay ng kontrobersyal na “war on drugs.”

Sa 20-pahinang kautusang inilabas noong Abril 17, inaprubahan ng ICC pre-trial chamber ang iminungkahing listahan ng mga dokumento mula sa ICC Registry na maaaring gamitin upang beripikahin ang pagkakakilanlan ng mga aplikanteng biktima. Ayon sa chamber, sapat na ang detalyeng ibinigay ng Registry sa bawat dokumento, kabilang na ang sample format, upang magsilbing patunay ng identidad ng mga aplikante.

Dagdag pa rito, binigyang-diin ng chamber na iminungkahi ng Registry ang pagtanggap ng isang deklarasyon na pirmado ng dalawang saksi, kalakip ang kanilang mga pagkakakilanlan, bilang patunay ng identidad ng aplikante o kaugnayan nito sa isang biktima, sa mga kasong walang sapat na “standard identification documents.”

Umapela naman si Nicholas Kaufman, abogado ng depensa ni Duterte, na hindi patas ang ganitong sistema. Tinuligsa niya ang paggamit ng tinatawag na “non-sequential” list ng ID formats mula sa Registry, na aniya’y “hindi makatarungan” para sa akusado.

Sa kasalukuyan, may hindi bababa sa 43 kaso ng umano’y extrajudicial killings na iniuugnay sa Davao Death Squad at mga operasyon ng pulisya noong administrasyon ni Duterte. Ang mga ito ang bumubuo sa kaso ng crimes against humanity na hinaharap ng dating pangulo.

Binigyan ng ICC pre-trial chamber ang prosekusyon ng palugit hanggang Hulyo 1 upang isumite ang lahat ng ebidensyang ihaharap laban kay Duterte. Ang mga ebidensyang ito ay magsisilbing batayan sa kumpirmasyon ng pagdinig ng kaso na nakatakda sa Setyembre 23.

Pope Francis returns with joyful popemobile ride on Easter

Venus L Peñaflor
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0
Pope Francis returns with joyful popemobile ride on Easter

VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis made a triumphant return to public view on Easter Sunday, drawing cheers and emotional reactions from a crowd of more than 35,000 in St. Peter’s Square as he greeted pilgrims from his popemobile, just weeks after surviving a life-threatening bout of double pneumonia.

In a surprise moment that electrified the gathered faithful, the 88-year-old pontiff took a ride through the square in his open-topped popemobile, offering blessings and warm smiles. As he passed through the flower-lined piazza under the spring sun, the crowd erupted into chants of “Viva il Papa!” and “Bravo!”

Francis stopped intermittently during the joyful circuit to bless babies brought to him, an image of vitality and pastoral closeness that seemed impossible just weeks ago.

“Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!” the Pope said, his voice notably stronger than in recent appearances. It marked his first extended public address since his release from the hospital on March 23 after a five-week stay.

Though Cardinal Angelo Comastri, retired archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated the Easter Mass in his place, Francis made a 20-minute appearance from the loggia of the basilica following the Mass. There, he delivered the traditional Urbi et Orbi apostolic blessing in Latin.

The celebration, held under sunny skies and with temperatures reaching 21°C (70°F), was enhanced by the beauty of thousands of daffodils and tulips donated by the Netherlands—a Vatican Easter tradition.

“It is excellent, a miracle,” said Margarita Torres Hernandez, a pilgrim from Mexico. “Now that he has come out, for me it’s a miracle, it’s something very big, very beautiful.”

Brief Meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance

Before heading to the basilica, Pope Francis met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who was in Rome with his family for Easter. According to the Vatican, the short meeting lasted only a few minutes and served as an exchange of Easter greetings.

“I know you have not been feeling great but it’s good to see you in better health,” Vance told the Pope. In return, Francis gifted three large chocolate Easter eggs for Vance’s children.

Continued Recovery After Serious Illness

The pontiff, who recently endured a 38-day hospital stay due to a severe case of double pneumonia, has made only a few public appearances since returning to the Vatican. He skipped the Good Friday and Holy Saturday services, but Sunday’s return was widely anticipated.

Doctors have prescribed two months of rest and respiratory therapy. While his voice still shows signs of strain, Sunday’s appearance marked a notable improvement.

“It was a very touching moment for us (to see the Pope),” said Marcin Popowsky, a pilgrim from Poland. “And we are very happy that we can see a pope in good shape.”

Easter Message: Hope, Peace, and Solidarity

This year’s Easter, celebrated simultaneously by both Catholic and Orthodox Christians, included Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message, which was read on his behalf by Archbishop Diego Ravelli. The speech offered prayers and appeals for peace in Gaza, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and other conflict zones.

“How much contempt is stirred up at times toward the vulnerable, the marginalized, and migrants!” the Pope’s message declared. “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!”

A Pastoral Heart for the Margins

Just days before Easter, Francis visited inmates at Rome’s downtown prison to mark Holy Thursday, his first major public outing since being hospitalized. The act reaffirmed the Pope’s enduring pastoral priority: to bring care and hope to those on the margins of society.

With his slow but steady return to health, Francis’ Easter appearance offered not only a sign of personal recovery but also a message of resilience and joy to a world in search of hope.

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