Pope Francis urged the world to “silence the voices of arms and overcome divisions”, in his traditional Christmas message, using his address to call for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, and to express concern about the “extremely serious” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Francis directly addressed the conflict in Ukraine in his Urbi et Orbi message, calling for “initiatives of dialogue and encounter in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.” His message came hours after Russia launched a large-scale air attack, using cruise missiles to target energy infrastructure across Ukraine.
Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope called on leaders to “open the door” to negotiations. “May the voice of weapons be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” the 88-year-old pope added.
In March this year, Ukrainian officials criticized Francis after he said the country should have the “courage to raise the white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. The Vatican’s communications director later clarified that Francis was calling for “a diplomatic solution in search of a just and lasting peace.”
Francis also used his Christmas message to address the conflict in the Middle East, calling for opening “the doors of dialogue and peace.” [to] Be open.”
He added: “I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious.” “Let there be a ceasefire, let the hostages be released and aid be provided to the people exhausted by hunger and war.”
The conflict has been raging for about 15 months, while ceasefire efforts have been repeated I stoppedOnce again, on Christmas Day, both sides blamed each other for failing to reach a truce.
On Wednesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health said in a statement that more than 45,361 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Thousands more people are believed to have been buried under the rubble and tens of thousands injured.
Speaking on Wednesday, Francis urged people to “tear down all walls of separation,” citing examples that ranged from the ideologies that “often characterize political life,” to physical walls. He called for a “mutually agreed solution” to demolish the border wall that has divided the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus since 1974.
He also called for a ceasefire in Sudan, which has been torn by a brutal 20-month civil war that has left millions under threat of famine.
He said: “I hope that Bin Al-Ali will support the efforts of the international community to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Sudan and start new ceasefire negotiations.”
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the “Holy Door” of St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of a jubilee year of Catholic celebrations that are expected to attract more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
Francis on Wednesday urged people to make the most of the jubilee year. “I call on every individual and every people of all nations to have the courage to walk through the door, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the voices of weapons and to overcome divisions,” he said.
With contributions from AFP, Associated Press and Reuters
