Pope Francis used his Easter message to again appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying the country has been “dragged” into a “cruel and senseless war” and warned that if the conflict escalates, it could lead to the destruction of humanity.

“May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace,” the pope said on April 17. “May they listen to that troubling question posed by scientists almost seventy years ago.”

“‘Shall we put an end to the human race, or shall mankind renounce war?,'” Francis asked, quoting from the 1955 Russell-Einstein Manifesto, which warned of the global destruction that could be caused by nuclear weapons.

“May there be an end to the flexing of muscles while people are suffering,” the pope pleaded. “Please, let us not get used to war!”

Despite the celebratory atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square, filled with an estimated 100,000 pilgrims and adorned with some 40,000 fresh flowers from the Netherlands, the pope struck a somber tone throughout his urbi et orbi (“to the city and the world”) message, which came at the end of the Easter liturgy and were delivered in lieu of a homily during the Mass.

The 85-year-old pope presided over the outdoor service, despite suffering from severe knee pain, which has limited his mobility the past two months. He was joined by 23 cardinals, 25 bishops and some 280 priests for the Sunday Mass, the first Easter celebration to take place in St. Peter’s Square since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Francis delivered the homily and baptized seven people during the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, April 16, he did not preside and remained seated for much of the nearly three hour liturgy. On Sunday, the pope began delivering his remarks standing, but took a seat half way through his address.