The pontiff also complained that the world was celebrating Christmas with “icy war winds”. He expressed his closeness to the population affected by the Ukraine war.
Ukraine: “Put an immediate end to this senseless war”
The Pope commemorated “our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are living this Christmas in the dark, in the cold or far from their homes – due to the destruction caused by ten months of war”. “The Lord enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the guns and put an immediate end to this senseless war,” Pope Francis said.
Francis addressed the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square from the loggia. “The Lord make us ready to help those who are suffering with concrete gestures of solidarity,” said the Holy Father.
Pope spoke of “third world war”
The 86-year-old pope also mentioned other regions, in other theaters of “this third world war,” such as Syria and the Holy Land. “Let us ask the Lord that there, in the land where he was born, dialogue and the search for mutual trust between Israelis and Palestinians will be resumed,” the pope said.
The pontiff asked for prayers for Lebanon to rise again, with the support of the international community, and called for a lasting ceasefire in Yemen and reconciliation in Myanmar and Iran.
famine in many countries
The Pope also expressed concern about the famine in many countries, while huge amounts of food are wasted and money spent on weapons every day. The war in Ukraine has further aggravated the situation, leaving entire populations at risk of starvation, particularly in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa states, the Pope warned.
“Every war causes hunger and abuses food as a weapon, preventing its distribution to populations already suffering. On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace and let us all, especially the political leaders, work to ensure that food is only a means of Peace be As we enjoy the joy of being gathered with loved ones, let us think of the families who have been hurt most by life and those who are struggling with unemployment and basic necessities in this time of economic crisis absent,” said the Pope.
memory of refugees
The Holy Father also recalled the “many refugees and displaced persons knocking on our doors in search of comfort, warmth and food”. Let us not forget the marginalized, the lonely, the orphans and the elderly at risk of being singled out, the prisoners we look to only for their faults and not as human beings,” Francis declared.
The Christmas message and the Urbi et orbi blessing are a highlight of the Christian celebration of Christmas. After two years of the pandemic, the Christmas celebrations in the Vatican took place without restrictions. 7,000 believers attended Christmas mass with the Pope on Saturday evening. 3,000 pilgrims followed the Mass on screens in St. Peter’s Square.
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