President, Speaker: Easter is time of hope, renewal, recovery for PH

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday urged Filipino Catholics in the country and abroad to take the Easter celebration as a time for renewal and recovery.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez also urged Filipinos to rest and reflect during the “time of hope” as Christians commemorate the resurrection of

Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. In his Easter Sunday message, President Marcos enjoined the faithful to take the day “to pause and give thanks for the opportunity for renewal and recovery as we push through our quest for genuine unity and progress for all.”

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis noted his "deep concern" on Sunday over a flare-up in tensions between Israel and Palestinians, delivering an Easter Mass in which he denounced the barriers to peace in the world. He said the renewed violence "threatens the desired climate of trust and mutual respect needed to resume dialogue", addressing a crowd of some 100,000 gathered in Saint Peter's Square.

The Argentine pontiff, a week after leaving hospital, also cited a string of "stumbling blocks" to peace in the world during his traditional Easter message, making special mention of the war in Ukraine.

"Help the beloved Ukrainian