Pope Benedict XVI began celebrating Easter Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square before imparting his traditional Urbi et Orbi message and blessing "to the city and the world.", dpa reported.
On an overcast spring morning, tens of thousands of people gathered in the famous Roman square to follow the ceremony which brought to a climax four days of intensive Easter-related commemorations involving the 84-year-old pontiff.
Benedict lead Easter Vigil inside the Vatican Basilica late on Saturday and he presided the traditional Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession around the Colosseum on Good Friday.
On Holy Thursday, the pontiff washed the feet of 12 priests in a symbolic gesture commemorating Jesus' act of humility to his disciples at the Last Supper.
Sunday's Mass and blessing was being broadcast to dozens of countries worldwide.