Christmas message: “Guns should be silent” – Pope calls for peace

Christmas message: “Guns should be silent” – Pope calls for peace

Christmas message
“Weapons should be silent” – Pope calls for peace






War, destruction and human suffering in Ukraine and the Middle East – this characterizes the Christmas celebrations in the Vatican. The Pope uses the Christmas message for an appeal.

Pope Francis urged peace in his Christmas message. He invites “all people, all peoples and nations” to “silence the weapons and overcome the divisions,” said the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church at the climax of the Christmas celebrations in front of the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

In his message, the pontiff particularly recalled the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. “The weapons should be silent in the martyred Ukraine!” he said from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He also called for “opening the door to negotiations and gestures of dialogue and encounter in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

Appeal for peace also for the Middle East

Francis made the same appeal to actors in the Middle East. “The doors of dialogue and peace should be opened throughout the entire conflict-torn region,” he demanded, visibly moved. He recalled the situation in the Gaza Strip: “There is a ceasefire, the hostages should be released and the population worn down by hunger and war should be cared for.”

In the Christmas message, the Pope usually focuses on conflicts and wars and calls for peace and reconciliation. This year he also recalled Lebanon, Syria, Libya and the conflicts and emergencies on the African continent and Latin America.

“Urbi et orbi” in front of numerous believers

After his speech, Francis gave the blessing “Urbi et Orbi”, i.e. the city and the world. The Pope gave the blessing while standing on the balcony, breathing heavily. He remained seated during the speech. The health of the 88-year-old, who is dependent on a wheelchair due to a serious knee problem and is in poor health, is becoming increasingly difficult.

The pontiff opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve before the traditional Christmas mass, officially ushering in the Holy Year 2025. In his Christmas message, he called for this year to be seen as a time for reconciliation among people – “even with our enemies.”

The Catholic Church usually celebrates a so-called Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee Year, every 25 years. According to Catholic understanding, believers can obtain remission of their sins through prayer and penance during a jubilee year. This also includes the pilgrimage to Rome and passing through the holy gates. The Holy Year 2025 officially ends on January 6, 2026.

dpa

Source: Stern

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