"Pope Francis' Easter Message: Prayers for Ukraine, Russia, and Peace"

Pope Francis delivered his Easter address at the Vatican, praying for both Russians and Ukrainians and calling for a resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. He also called for peace in the Middle East and referred to the February earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The Easter message saw Francis pray for the "beloved Ukrainian people on their journey toward peace" and for "the light of Easter upon the people of Russia." Around 45,000 people were estimated to have gathered for mid-morning Mass, Vatican security services told The Associated Press, with the crowd swelling to 100,000 ahead of the pontiff's speech.