Pope Francis, still recovering from severe pneumonia, appeared this Sunday morning on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican to give the traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, after having been absent during Holy Week.

"Happy Easter," said the Pope, who appeared in a wheelchair before the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for the most important feast in the Christian calendar.

Visibly frail and still recovering from pneumonia, he said only a few words and it was the master of ceremonies who read the message written by the Pope. In a text focused on peace and conflicts around the world, Francis said that peace can only be achieved through true disarmament.

The Pope called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where the situation is "dramatic and deplorable". He also asked Hamas to release the remaining hostages and condemned "the climate of growing anti-Semitism that is spreading throughout the world".

"I express my closeness to the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian people. I appeal to the warring parties: make a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people who yearn for a peaceful future."

According to a SIC NewsPope Francis has been away from the Holy Week celebrations to recover from pneumonia. Even so, the head of the Catholic Church had expressed his desire to be present at the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

Normally, the Pope presides over at least eight ceremonies at the Vatican during Holy Week, culminating in Mass on Easter Sunday, when tens of thousands of people gather in St. Peter's Square to celebrate the day they believe Jesus rose from the dead.

(Photo DR)