Pope Francis, in his traditional Christmas message, called on “all people of all nations” to find the courage to “silence the sound of weapons and overcome the divisions” that plague the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, to Africa to Asia.
In his Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) address, Francis directly addressed the Ukrainian conflict and called for “the courage needed to open the door to negotiations.”
The pope, who has recently become more critical of Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, also renewed his call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas and for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas – which the US and EU consider a terrorist organisation.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church’s “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) address served as a summary of the problems facing the world this year. As Christmas coincided with the start of the 2025 Holy Year of Hope, Francis called for widespread reconciliation, “even with our enemies.”
“I invite every individual and all people of all nations… to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of weapons and overcome divisions,” the pope said from St. Peter’s Basilica.
Francis also said it should be time to “tear down all walls of separation.”, RSE writes.
