Pope Francis The Vatican delivered its annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) Christmas message and blessing on Wednesday, calling for peace around the world and an end to ongoing conflicts.
Leader of the Roman Catholic Church He directly mentioned the war between Russia and Ukraine and called for “the necessary courage to open the door to negotiation” during the speech, which serves as a summary of the woes facing the world this year.
“Please silence the sound of weapons in Ukraine,” Francis said from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to thousands of people in the square below. He also called for “dialogue and meeting initiatives in order to achieve just and lasting peace.”
Francis (88 years old) celebrates the twelfth birthday of his papacy by calling for an end to political, social and military conflicts in places such as Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Pope Francis delivered 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 fire from Ukrainian officials this year when he said the country should have “white flag” courage to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously ruled out entering into peace talks without restoring Ukraine's pre-war borders. But Zelensky showed an increasing willingness in the weeks following the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States to enter into negotiations.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference on July 8, 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine. (Mykola Tess/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
Francis, who has become more critical of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, also renewed his call for a ceasefire in the Strip. The Israeli-Hamas war And the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “extremely dangerous” and called for “opening the doors of dialogue and peace.”
Demonstrators and relatives of hostages taken by Hamas during the movement's attack on Israel on October 7, protest on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Christmas marked the beginning of the celebration of the Holy Year 2025, which is expected to bring about 32 million Catholics to Rome, according to the Associated Press.
Pilgrims lined up early Wednesday to walk through the Great Holy Door at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica. Crossing the Holy Door is one way believers can receive absolution or forgiveness of sins during the Jubilee, a tradition that occurs once every quarter century and dates back to the year 1300.
Thousands listen to Pope Francis deliver his Christmas message and blessing from the Vatican on December 25, 2024. (Vatican News/YouTube)
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On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis knocked on the door and was the first to enter, inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee Year which he dedicated to hope.
The Catholic Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee, is a time of peace, forgiveness and forgiveness.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
