For Easter, Pope Francis calls for “a general exchange” of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza

“Let us not let the winds of war blow ever stronger on Europe and the Mediterranean,” urged the sovereign pontiff on Sunday in his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing at the Vatican.

From Ukraine to Gaza, Pope Francis gave a vast overview of conflicts in the world on Sunday March 31 during his Easter message to the Vatican. “War is always an absurdity and a defeat”he launched as part of his blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and to the world”), in front of 60,000 faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square.

“While calling for respect for the principles of international law, I call for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine”, launched the Argentine pope, to the applause of the crowd. A few weeks earlier, he had drawn criticism from kyiv and its allies after calling for “have the courage to raise a white flag” to end the conflict. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not working out, have the courage to negotiate,” he said, in an apparent allusion to Ukraine.

Appearing in good shape, sometimes standing, Pope Francis renewed his call on Sunday to “an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”as well as “a rapid release of the hostages kidnapped on October 7” and access “guaranteed” humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, at a time when a new round of negotiations for a truce between Israel and Hamas is due to begin.

“Why so many deaths?”

Jorge Bergoglio reviewed numerous conflicts shaking the world, citing more than a dozen countries, from the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria) to Africa (Sudan, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo) via Haiti , Burma and “dialogue” between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Let us not let the winds of war blow ever stronger on Europe and the Mediterranean”he pleaded.

“Let us not give in to the logic of weapons and rearmament.”

Pope Francis

in his Easter speech at the Vatican

“Let us not allow the ongoing hostilities to continue to seriously affect the civilian population who are now exhausted, especially children”he continued. “How much suffering we see in their eyes. Through their looks, they ask us: why? Why so many deaths? Why so much destruction?”

The 87-year-old pope invited political leaders to “spare no effort to fight the scourge of human trafficking, working tirelessly to dismantle networks of exploitation and restore freedom to those who are its victims”.