| Vatican Media |
ROME – After the opening of the Holy Door on December 24, Pope Francis today pronounced the traditional Christmas message with the blessing from the external loggia of St. Peter's Basilica “City and World”invoking peace for places marked by war and suffering.
The appeal for peace
At the heart of his speech, the Pontiff made a heartfelt appeal:
“Silence the weapons in the tormented Ukraine! Let us have the audacity to open the door to negotiation, with gestures of dialogue and meeting, to arrive at a just and lasting peace.”
Another thought went to the Middle Eastin particular to Holy Land:
“Silence the weapons in the Middle East! With my eyes fixed on the cradle of Bethlehem, I turn my thoughts to the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, in particular to the dear community of Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is very serious. Cease the fire, free the hostages and help the population exhausted by hunger and war.”
A Jubilee for unity and social justice
Pope Francis linked the Christmas message to the spiritual and social meaning of Jubilee.
“Let it be an opportunity to break down all walls of separation: the ideological ones, which often mark political life, and also the physical ones.”
He then underlined the importance of international solidarity, proposing a concrete gesture of justice:
“The event must also be an opportunity to forgive debts, especially those that burden the poorest countries.”
The Pontiff's next appointments
As part of the Christmas and Jubilee celebrations, Pope Francis will continue his pastoral commitment:
- Tomorrow, December 26, at 9:00, he will visit the Rebibbia prison to bring comfort to prisoners.
- At noon he will lead the Marian prayer ofAngelus.
The Pontiff's intervention renews the message of peace and brotherhood that Christmas represents, with an invitation to the international community to take responsibility for peace and social justice.
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