On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis entered St. Peter’s Square in an open-topped car for the first time since his treatment for double pneumonia, greeting tens of thousands of Catholics after the Vatican celebrated Easter Mass. This was his final public appearance.

Pope Francis, who died Monday morning, presided over only a few duties under medical orders, but appeared at the end of the event to deliver a message to the city of Rome and the world on the occasion of Easter.

In his final message, read by an aide when Pope Francis briefly appeared on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Before his admission to the hospital, where he spent five weeks being treated for pneumonia, Pope Francis had intensified his criticism of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The pope also described the humanitarian situation in the Strip last January as “extremely grave and shameful.”, according to Asharag newspaper.

In the message, the late Pope said that the situation in Gaza is “tragic and deplorable,” and also called on Hamas to release the remaining detainees.

He said: “I am close to the suffering of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and I am also close to the Israeli and Palestinian people. The growing climate of anti-Semitism spreading throughout the world is deeply worrying.”, wrote al-jazeera.

The message read: “I appeal to all parties to the conflict: cease fire, release the hostages, and provide assistance to the starving people who yearn for a future of peace.

“The Vatican announced in a video statement on Monday the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88, after a long illness.According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

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