Pope Francis called for “arms to be silenced” around the world during his Christmas address on Wednesday, urging for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, while condemning the "extremely grave" humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In his traditional message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, the 88-year-old pontiff appealed for dialogue to achieve a just peace in Ukraine, as the country endured a Christmas morning attack by 170 Russian missiles and drones, which Kyiv described as “inhumane.”
Francis also made a passionate appeal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. “I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave,” he said to thousands gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica for the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) address.
"May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released, and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war."
His call for peace extended to Sudan, which has been ravaged by 20 months of brutal civil war, leaving millions at risk of famine.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s Christmas attack on the country’s power grid, which killed one energy worker in the 13th major strike on Ukraine’s energy system this year. "Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack," Zelensky said.
"What could be more inhumane?" He reported that over 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 drones were used in the attack.
Ukraine has celebrated Christmas on 25 December for the past two years, moving away from the traditional 7 January observance to distance itself from Russia.
In Russia, five people were killed in Ukrainian strikes on its territory overnight, including one from a downed drone in North Ossetia.
Meanwhile, Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, were subdued this year due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Bethlehem’s giant Christmas tree and usual festive decorations were absent, with Mayor Anton Salman saying, "This year we limited our joy." Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, described the devastation he witnessed in Gaza, but emphasized the resilience of its people, saying, "I saw everything destroyed, poverty, disaster. But I also saw life — they don't give up. So you should not give up either. Never."
At Manger Square, scouts held a parade with banners calling for an end to the violence: "We want life, not death" and "Stop the Gaza genocide now."
In Gaza, around 1,100 Christians gathered in the 12th-century Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, where George al-Sayegh, a local resident, lamented, “This Christmas carries the stench of death and destruction.” The war between Hamas and Israel has delayed the finalization of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Elsewhere in Syria, protests broke out in Christian areas of Damascus over the burning of a Christmas tree, reflecting the growing tensions in the region. A demonstrator, identified as George, declared, “If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore.”
In the United States, President Joe Biden expressed his hopes for liberty, love, and compassion in his final Christmas message from the White House. He also marked the start of Hanukkah, highlighting the Jewish people's enduring faith.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump used the occasion to blast his political opponents and praise his own achievements, while also announcing his pick for ambassador to Panama.
In Germany, Christmas celebrations were overshadowed by a deadly attack on a market, prompting President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to issue a message of healing, stating, “Hatred and violence must not have the final word.”
In the United Kingdom, King Charles III’s Christmas message focused on gratitude for healthcare workers and called for "peace on Earth" and an end to global conflicts.
In Buenos Aires, a solidarity Christmas dinner provided meals for around 3,000 homeless people, as more than half of Argentina’s population faces poverty. In Paris, worshippers attended the first Christmas Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral since its reopening after the 2019 fire.