Pope Francis calls for an end to global conflicts in his Christmas message

Pope Francis today called for weapons to be silenced in “martyred Ukraine” and the Middle East, invoking the “extremely serious” humanitarian situation in Gaza, and defended “solutions for social harmony” in the American continent, including Venezuela and Haiti.

Dec 25, 2024 - 15:57
Jan 6, 2025 - 01:33
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Pope Francis calls for an end to global conflicts in his Christmas message
Pope Francis calls for an end to global conflicts in his Christmas message

On the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Francis reflected on the conflicts and evils that affect the world, in his Christmas message, addressed to the approximately 30,000 people who gathered in St. Peter's Square.

“May the weapons fall silent in the martyred Ukraine. May they have the audacity to open the door to negotiations and gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace,” said the Pope.

And he continued: “May the weapons in the Middle East be silenced. With my eyes fixed on the cradle of Bethlehem, I turn my thoughts to the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious.”

“May the fire cease, may the hostages be freed and may the population exhausted by hunger and war be helped,” added the pontiff, sitting on a chair on the balcony of the central hall.

The leader of the Catholic Church stated that he also has in his heart “the Christian community in Lebanon, especially in the South, and in Syria, at this very delicate moment” and encouraged the search for solutions that allow national reconciliation in Libya.

“May the doors of dialogue and peace be opened throughout the region torn apart by conflicts,” he added.

Francis recalled that the Holy Door was opened on Tuesday to mark the beginning of the Jubilee, which is celebrated every 25 years.

“May it help us to reconcile with ourselves, with each other, even with our enemies,” he asked.

“This Christmas, the beginning of the Jubilee Year, I invite all people, all peoples and nations to have the courage to cross the Gate, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence their weapons and to overcome divisions,” he appealed.

In his message, the Pope also asked “that the birth of the Saviour may bring a time of hope to the families of thousands of children who are dying due to the measles epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as to the populations of eastern Congo and those of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Mozambique”.

He also called for peace for the countries of the Horn of Africa and “access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Sudan and the launch of new negotiations for a ceasefire”.

“May the Child Jesus inspire the political authorities and all people of good will in the American continent to find effective solutions in truth and justice as quickly as possible, to promote social harmony, particularly in Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua,” the Pope continued in his message.

The Pope did not forget the people of Myanmar, who, due to ongoing armed clashes, are forced to flee their homes.

Francis expressed the hope that “the Jubilee will be an opportunity to break down all walls of separation: the ideological ones, which so often mark political life, and the material ones”, referring in particular to “the division that has affected the island of Cyprus for 50 years and which has torn the human and social fabric”.

Francis also took the opportunity to ask “that the Jubilee be an opportunity to forgive debts, especially those of the poorest countries”.

He concluded by wishing “a serene and holy Christmas” and giving the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.

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