Pope Francis appears on Easter Sunday at St. Peter's Square as he continues recovery

Pope Francis made a brief appearance on Easter Sunday to bless the thousands of people in St. Peter's Square as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia.

"Brothers and sisters, Happy Easter!" Francis said, his voice sounding stronger than it has since his hospitalization. "Viva il Papa!" (Long live the pope), the crowd responded.

Francis looped through the square in his open-topped popemobile and then up and down the main avenue leading to it. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him, a scene that was common in the past but unthinkable just a few weeks ago as the 88-year-old Francis fought for his life.