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pope francis On Wednesday, he delivered his annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) Christmas message and a blessing from the Vatican, calling for global peace and an end to ongoing conflicts.
leader of the organization roman catholic church The speech, which directly referenced the war between Russia and Ukraine and called for “the courage needed to open the door to negotiations,” summed up the dilemma the world has faced this year.
“May the sound of weapons disappear in Ukraine,” Pope Francis told thousands of people in the square below from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He also called for “gestures of dialogue and engagement to achieve a just and lasting peace.” “.
Francis, 88, who is celebrating his 12th Christmas as pope, has called for an end to political, social or military conflicts in Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
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Pope Francis delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” speech from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. (Vatican News/YouTube)
Francis, who has been pope since 2013, came under criticism from Ukrainian officials this year when he said the country should have the “white flag” courage to negotiate with Russia to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously ruled out peace talks without restoring Ukraine’s pre-war borders. But in the weeks since Donald Trump was re-elected as US president, Zelensky has shown an increasing willingness to engage in negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds a press conference on July 8, 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine. (Mykola Tys/Global Photos Ukraine, Getty Images)
Francis, who has become more critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza recently, has also renewed his calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Israel and Hamas War and release the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
He called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “extremely serious” and called for “opening the door to dialogue and peace.”
Demonstrators and relatives of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel protest on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the United States, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Christmas marks the start of Holy Year celebrations in 2025, with 32 million Catholics expected to come to Rome, according to the Associated Press.
Pilgrims filed through the Holy Door at the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica early Wednesday. Passing through the Holy Door is a way for believers to receive indulgences, or forgiveness of sins, during the Jubilee Year, a tradition that occurs every quarter century and dates back to 1300.
On December 25, 2024, thousands of people listened to Pope Francis’ Christmas message and blessings at the Vatican. (Vatican News/YouTube)
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On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis knocked on the door and was the first to walk in, opening his 2025 Jubilee dedicated to hope.
The Catholic Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee Year, is considered a time of peace, forgiveness and absolution.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
