{"id":2210065,"date":"2024-03-31T13:43:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-31T17:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-overcomes-health-concerns-to-preside-over-a-blustery-easter-sunday-mass-in-st-peters-square\/"},"modified":"2024-03-31T13:43:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-31T17:43:32","slug":"pope-overcomes-health-concerns-to-preside-over-a-blustery-easter-sunday-mass-in-st-peters-square","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pope-overcomes-health-concerns-to-preside-over-a-blustery-easter-sunday-mass-in-st-peters-square\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite health concerns, the Pope leads Easter Sunday Mass in a windy St. Peter\u2019s Square"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpope-overcomes-health-concerns-to-preside-over-a-blustery-easter-sunday-mass-in-st-peters-square%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2210065&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pope Francis led Easter celebrations despite winter respiratory issues, appealing for peace in Gaza and a Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap. He delivered a heartfelt prayer for global\u200d peace, emphasizing reconciliation over conflict. The Easter Mass drew \u200da large \u200dcrowd,\u2062 reflecting hope for unity and compassion in a troubled world. Your \u2062text is concise and \u200dcaptures the key points about Pope\u200b Francis leading Easter celebrations\u2063 amidst health challenges and advocating for peace. \u200bIt effectively highlights the significance of his message of unity and compassion during the Easter Mass.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Pope-Francis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Pope Francis\">Pope Francis<\/a> rallied from a winter-long bout of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/healthcare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>respiratory<\/a> problems to lead some 60,000 people in Easter celebrations Sunday, making a strong appeal for a ceasefire in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Pope Francis\">Gaza<\/a> and a prisoner swap between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/europe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Russia\">Russia<\/a> and Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Francis presided over Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-decked St. Peter\u2019s Square and then delivered a heartfelt prayer for peace in his annual roundup of global crises.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeace is never made with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts,\u201d Francis said from the loggia overlooking the square to applause from the wind-swept crowd below.<\/p>\n<p>Francis appeared in good form, despite having celebrated the 2\u00bd-hour nighttime Easter Vigil just hours before. The pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pope-francis-health-hospital-vatican-1b743492e19762ac4a71cefb556967d0\">battling respiratory problems<\/a> all winter, and his full participation in Easter services was not entirely guaranteed, especially after he skipped the traditional Good Friday procession. <\/p>\n<p>But in a sign he was feeling OK, he made several loops around the piazza in his popemobile after Mass, greeting well-wishers.<\/p>\n<p>The Vatican said some 60,000 people attended the Mass, with more packing the Via della Conciliazione boulevard leading to the piazza. At the start of the service, a gust of wind knocked over a large religious icon on the altar just a few feet from the pope; ushers quickly righted it.<\/p>\n<p>Easter Mass is one of the most important dates on the liturgical calendar, celebrating what the faithful believe was Jesus\u2019s resurrection after his crucifixion. The Mass precedes the \u201cUrbi et Orbi\u201d (to the city and the world) blessing, in which the pope traditionally offers a laundry list of the threats afflicting humanity. This year, Francis said his thoughts went particularly to people in Ukraine and Gaza and all those facing war, particularly the children who he said had \u201cforgotten how to smile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine: all for the sake of all!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He called for the \u201cprompt\u201d release of prisoners taken from Israel on Oct. 7, an immediate ceasefire in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Gaza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Gaza<\/a>, and for humanitarian access to reach Palestinians.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet us not allow the current hostilities to continue to have grave repercussions on the civil population, by now at the limit of its endurance, and above all on the children,\u201d he said in a speech that also touched on the plight of Haitians, the Rohingya and victims of human trafficking.<\/p>\n<p>For the past few weeks, Francis has generally avoided delivering long speeches to avoid the strain on his breathing. He <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/vatican-pope-palm-sunday-ukraine-gaza-ab758834cb0f99887b6f58a2c771fcc5\">ditched his Palm Sunday homily<\/a> last week and decided at the last minute to stay home from the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum.<\/p>\n<p>The Vatican said in a brief explanation that the decision was made to \u201cconserve his health.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision clearly paid off, as Francis was able to recite the prayers of the lengthy Saturday night Easter Vigil service, including administering the sacraments of baptism and First Communion to eight new Catholics, and preside over Easter Sunday Mass and deliver his speech.<\/p>\n<p>Francis wasn\u2019t the only leader whose mere presence at Easter offered a reassuring sign of stability and normalcy.<\/p>\n<p>In Britain, King Charles III joined the queen and other members of the royal family for an Easter service at Windsor Castle in <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/britain-charles-camilla-kate-easter-b8f580bd6bdbc5c146dab2b279adab54\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>his most significant public outing<\/a> since he was diagnosed with cancer last month.<\/p>\n<p>The monarch offered a cheery wave to spectators as he walked into St. George\u2019s Chapel, and then spent time shaking hands and greeting well-wishers after the service. \u201cYou\u2019re very brave to stand out here in the cold,\u201d Charles told them.<\/p>\n<p>But things were hardly normal in Jerusalem, where Easter Mass came and went at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Only a few dozen faithful attended the service as the Israel-Hamas war rages on in Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>The medieval church in the Old City is the holy site where Christians believe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Jesus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Jesus<\/a> was crucified, buried, and resurrected.<\/p>\n<p>In years past, the church has been packed with worshippers and tourists. But the bloody conflict in Gaza, now into its sixth month, has seen a huge downturn in tourism and pilgrimages across Israel and the Palestinian territories.<\/p>\n<p>The streets of the old city were also absent of Palestinian Christians from the West Bank, who normally flock to the city for Easter. Since the conflict erupted, Palestinian worshippers from the Israeli-occupied territory have needed special permission to cross checkpoints into Jerusalem.<\/p>\n<p>In Gaza, the situation was similarly bleak. Only a few dozen Palestinian Christians celebrated Easter Mass at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, but there wasn\u2019t much to celebrate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis doesn\u2019t feel like Easter, like other times,\u201d said Winnie Tarazi, a Christian from Gaza City. \u201cIt\u2019s because we are here deprived of our homes, our belongings, our children, and everything. We lost our family between those who fled, who stayed, and who were destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In Iraq\u2019s Nineveh Plains, where 10 years ago the Islamic State group killed and displaced thousands of minority Iraqis, hundreds of people celebrated Easter in a region that has had a Christian presence since around the time of Jesus. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Iraq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Iraq<\/a>\u2019s Christian community, which was once some 1.5 million strong, now numbers at most a few hundred thousand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will definitely stick to this land and remain here until the last, and hope for a change,\u201d said Nassar Mubarak, who attended Easter Mass at the Immaculate Conception church in Qaraqosh.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite battling respiratory issues throughout winter, Pope Francis persevered to guide around 60,000 individuals in Easter festivities. He made poignant pleas for a Gaza ceasefire and a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Leading Easter Sunday Mass in a flower-adorned St. Peter\u2019s Square, he concluded with a heartfelt prayer<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2210066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/popefrancis_eastermass_2024-1024x598.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2210065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/popefrancis_eastermass_2024-1024x598.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2210065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2210065\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2210066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2210065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2210065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2210065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}