Pope Francis misses Easter Mass as he continues pneumonia recovery The pontiff did appear later for a blessing at at St Peter's Square Pope Francis visits Rome's Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday on April 17, 2025 in Rome (Image: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images ) Pope Francis did not open the Vatican's Easter Sunday mass as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia. In his place, Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated the open-air Mass before thousands of people in St Peter’s Square on a chilly but sunny spring morning in Vatican City Francis, 88, has only appeared in public a handful of times since returning to the Vatican on March 23, after a 38-day hospital stay. He missed the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday leading up to Easter. ‌ He was expected to make an appearance on Sunday, according to the Mass booklet and liturgical plans released by the Vatican. Despite not presiding over the opening of mass, the pontiff did appear for an Easter Sunday blessing at St Peter's Square, where he prayed and gave sweets to children. “Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter,” Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his admission to hospital. The thousands of people below erupted in cheers as a military band kicked off a round of the Holy See and Italian anthem. Pope Francis' Delegate, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presides the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on April 19, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican (Image: Getty Images ) Article continues below Francis waved from the balcony and then asked an aide to read his speech. On his way to the basilica, Francis briefly met US vice president JD Vance, who was spending Easter in Rome with his family. Easter is the most joyful moment in the Christian liturgical calendar, when the faithful celebrate the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. This year, Easter is being celebrated on the same day by Catholics and Orthodox Christians, and has been marked by Russia’s announcement of a temporary Easter truce in its war in Ukraine. ‌ Easter at the Vatican traditionally involves a Mass and the pope’s Urbi et Orbi blessing (Latin for “to the city and the world”), a speech delivered from the loggia over the basilica entrance which is usually a roundup of global hotspots and human suffering. Francis has sharply cut back his workload as he follows doctors’ orders of two months of convalescence and respiratory therapy to improve his lung function. He still seems to require great effort to project his voice, and his breathing remains laboured. A procession arrives for the exhibition of the relic of the holy cross from the Lodge of St. Veronica, Friday, April 18, 2025 (Image: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino ) ‌ Before Sunday, his biggest outing had been a visit to Rome’s central prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates. For the latest news and breaking news visit http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/ . Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Article continues below