Easter celebration: Pope Francis tells world leaders to allow freedom of expression.

Pope Francis has appeared at the Vatican’s St Peter’s square to wish “happy Easter” to thousands of worshippers across the globe while enjoining world leaders to ensure there’s freedom of religion and freedom of expression. The Pope, aged 88, came out in a wheelchair and waved from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to cheering crowds below. His appearance had been eagerly anticipated, following his discharge from hospital last month, after five weeks of treatment for an infection that led to double pneumonia.

Prior to Sunday’s celebrations, he had been seen out twice this week. The Pope presented a frail figure as he came out on Easter Sunday, saying the words: “dear brothers and sisters, happy Easter. His traditional Easter address was delivered by a clergy member in whom he told world leaders that: “there can be no peace without freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect for the views of others.”