Pope wishes 'Happy Easter' to crowds in St Peter's Square

Pope Francis has greeted crowds gathered in St Peter's Square, despite the 88-year-old's frail health that has kept him from most Holy Week events.

"Happy Easter," said the Argentine pontiff in a weak voice from his wheelchair at the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, to the delight of around 35,000 people in the flower-filled square.

The pope traditionally delivers his "Urbi et Orbi" ("To the City and the World") benediction from the balcony that overlooks St Peter's Square, but he gave that task to his Master of Ceremonies, Monsignor Diego Ravelli.

His address, read out, condemned "worrisome" anti-Semitism, and the "deplorable" situation in Gaza.

Given his delicate health following treatment for pneumonia, it had not been certain whether Pope Francis would be present, or if so, in what capacity.

The Pope's voice remains weak, despite improvements in his breathing, although he did appear in front of the crowd without the nasal cannula he has been wearing to receive oxygen.

In the reading of the Easter text, the pontiff called a growing climate of anti-Semitism around the world "worrisome", while also condemning the war in Gaza and reiterating his call for a ceasefire.

"I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation," read the address.

Pope Francis also called for freedom of religion and respect for the views of others, saying without them peace was not possible.

"There can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others," read the Pope's address.

The Pope later made a surprise tour of St Peter's Square in his pope-mobile, waving occasionally from his vehicle.

Pope Francis also had a private meeting at the Vatican this morning with US Vice President JD Vance, the Vatican said in a statement.

Mr Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with the pontiff over the Trump administration's immigration policies, met with Francis at his Vatican residence to exchange Easter greetings, the statement said.

Mr Vance also held talks yesterday with the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See's secretary for relations with states.

That came just two months after a spat between Francis and the administration of US President Donald Trump over its anti-migrant policies.

Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the college of cardinals, presided over last night's solemn Easter vigil in Saint Peter's Basilica in place of the pontiff.

Francis, who has been ordered to rest for two months and avoid public duties, has had a single official engagement this Holy Week, visiting a prison in Rome.

He missed the traditional foot-washing ritual, which seeks to imitate Jesus Christ's washing of his disciples' feet.

When asked by a journalist after his prison visit what he felt about this Easter week in his current condition, the smiling pope said in a weak and raspy voice: "I am living it as best I can."

This year's Easter is unusual as it falls on the same weekend in both the Catholic and Protestant branches of Christianity, which follow the Gregorian calendar, and the Orthodox branch, which uses the Julian calendar.