VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called Wednesday for “arms to be silenced” around the world in his Christmas address, appealing for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan as he denounced the “extremely grave” humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He used his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and the world”) message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to call for talks for a just peace in Ukraine.
“May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” the 88-year-old pontiff said, his voice strained and breathless. “May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
In front of thousands of the faithful gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, also appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the freeing of Israeli hostages.
“I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave. May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war,” he added.
Pope Francis appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza as Palestinian choristers mark another sad Christmas from Bethlehem to Gaza.
Francis extended his call for a silencing of arms to the whole Middle East and to Sudan, which has been ravaged by 20 months of civil war where millions are under the threat of famine.
“May the Son of the Most High sustain the efforts of the international community to facilitate access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Sudan and to initiate new negotiations for a ceasefire,” he said.
Sad Christmas from Bethlehem to Gaza
Hundreds of people gathered at the Church of the Nativity in the city of Bethlehem on Tuesday to mark another solemn Christmas overshadowed by the ongoing Israeli bombardments in Gaza.
Missing for a second consecutive year were the festive decorations, and the crowd paled in comparison to the throngs of tourists and pilgrims of Christmases past — a reflection of the sombre mood as Israeli bombings devastated most of the besieged Palestinian territory.
Traditionally in Bethlehem, a grand Christmas tree would light up Manger Square, but local authorities opted against elaborate celebrations for a second year.
“This year we limited our joy,” Bethlehem mayor Anton Salman told AFP.
