Published on 26/12/2023
St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis Extends Christmas Blessing with a Global Call for Peace. On Christmas Day, Pope Francis delivered a poignant message dedicated to the pursuit of global peace, drawing inspiration from the biblical narrative of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.
In a symbolic gesture, the town of Bethlehem in the Palestinian West Bank scaled back its Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gaza.
Traditionally, Pope Francis uses his annual address to express concern for the numerous challenges facing the world, and this year was no exception. The Pope addressed a wide range of conflicts, from the Sahel and the Horn of Africa to Sudan, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, and beyond.
In his plea for peace, Pope Francis touched upon conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, South Sudan, Congo, and Korean peninsula. He emphasized the importance of humanitarian efforts, dialogue and security prevailing over violence and death.
Specifically addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Pope Francis extended his embrace to all, especially the Christian communities of Gaza. He mourned the victims of the October attack and urgently appealed for the liberation of those held hostage.
The Pope called for an end to military operations, emphasizing the dire humanitarian situation and advocating for the provision of aid. He fervently prayed for a resolution to the Palestinian question through sincere and persevering dialogue, supported by strong political will and international community backing.
The pontiff delivered these impassioned remarks from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, overlooking crowds gathered below, marking Christmas with a powerful plea for peace on a global scale.
