Pope makes brief appearance at Easter Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square

Pope Francis also held short meeting with JD Vance, US vice-president, as pontiff recovers from severe bout of pneumonia

Pope Francis, who is recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia, marked Easter Sunday by making a brief appearance to bless thousands of people who had gathered for mass in St Peter’s Square, and by holding a short meeting with the US vice-president, JD Vance.

The 88-year-old pontiff – who nearly died during his recent, five-week stay at Rome’s Gemelli hospital – did not celebrate Easter Sunday mass in the piazza, instead delegating the service to Cardinal Angelo Comastri, the retired archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica.