The Pope, at the Regina Caeli, recalled that "today various Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches and also various Latin communities celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar. We celebrated it last Sunday according to the Gregorian calendar".
"I offer them my best wishes - he said again -. Christ is risen, he is truly risen. May he be the one to fill the good expectations of hearts with hope. May he be the one to give peace, outraged by the barbarism of war".
"Just today - Francis said - two months have passed since the beginning of this war: instead of stopping the war, the war has intensified. It is sad that in these days, which are the holiest and most solemn for all Christians, the mortal roar is heard more of weapons instead of the sound of bells announcing the Resurrection. And it is sad that weapons are increasingly taking the place of the word ".
"I renew the appeal for an Easter truce, a minimal and tangible sign of a desire for peace. Stop the attack to meet the suffering of the exhausted population".
"Let us stop, obeying the words of the Risen One, which on Easter day he repeats to his disciples: peace to you, peace to you!", Said the Pontiff, addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"I ask everyone to increase prayer for peace and to have the courage to say and show that peace is possible", continued Francis.
"Political leaders please listen to the voice of the people who want peace, not escalation of the conflict," he added.