In his annual Christmas address, Pope Francis implored the global community to "silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions," underscoring the urgent need for peace in regions such as the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan.
The Pope also expressed his deep concern over the "extremely grave" humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
According to The Guardian, the Pope's Urbi et Orbi message was particularly focused on the escalating conflict in Ukraine. He urged for "gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace." This plea came in the wake of a massive aerial assault by Russia, which deployed cruise missiles to target Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Delivering his address from the central balcony of St Peters Basilica, the 88-year-old pontiff called upon leaders to "open the door" to negotiations. "May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine," he implored. Earlier this year, Pope Francis faced criticism from Ukrainian officials when he suggested that the country should have "the courage to raise the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. The Vatican's director of communications later clarified that the Pope was advocating for a "diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace."
In his Christmas Day message, Pope Francis also turned his attention to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, urging for "the doors of dialogue and peace [to] be flung open." He expressed particular concern for the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is dire. "May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war," he said.
The conflict, which has been ongoing for nearly 15 months, has seen repeated attempts at a ceasefire fall through. Both sides blamed each other for the failure to reach a truce on Christmas Day. Gaza's health ministry reported that over 45,361 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023. Thousands more are believed to be buried under the rubble, and tens of thousands have been wounded.
The Pope also addressed the issue of division, urging people to "tear down all walls of separation." He cited examples ranging from political ideologies to physical walls, calling for a "mutually agreed solution" to dismantle the border wall that has divided Cyprus since 1974.
Turning his attention to Sudan, which has been devastated by 20 months of brutal civil war, Pope Francis called for a ceasefire. "May the son of the most high sustain the efforts of the international community to facilitate access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Sudan and to initiate new negotiations for a ceasefire," he said.
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the "holy door" of St Peters Basilica, marking the start of the jubilee year of Catholic celebrations expected to attract over 30 million pilgrims to Rome. He encouraged people to seize the opportunity of the jubilee year. "I invite every individual and all people of all nations to have the courage to walk through the door, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions," he said.
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