Pope Francis waves from a window of the Gemelli hospital before to be discharge after a five weeks hospitalization for pneumonia, in Rome on March 23, 2025. Tiziana Fabi, AFP
VATICAN CITY, Holy See -- Pope Francis called Sunday for an "immediate" end to Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip, and for the resumption of dialogue for the release of hostages and a "definitive ceasefire".
"I am saddened by the resumption of the intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with so many deaths and injuries", Francis wrote in his Angelus prayer, which was published Sunday as the 88-year-old was being discharged from more than five weeks in hospital.
"I ask that the weapons be silenced immediately and that the courage be found to resume dialogue so that all the hostages can be freed and a definitive ceasefire reached", said Francis, who was set to return to the Vatican on Sunday.
"The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is once again very serious and requires the urgent commitment of the conflicting parties and the international community", he said.
READ: Pope Francis returns home from hospital, thanks faithful
The pontiff returned to the Vatican on Sunday after being discharged from the hospital where he spent more than five weeks being treated for breathing difficulties, but took time before leaving to thank well-wishers for their support.
Looking tired and worn, the pontiff sat in a wheelchair on one of the hospital balconies to say goodbye, waving softly to hundreds of people who had gathered below to wish the head of the Catholic Church a full recovery.
Pilgrims chanted his name at the first public sighting of Francis since February 14, when he was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital with breathing difficulties and a respiratory illness which developed into pneumonia.
© Agence France-Presse
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