In his first Christmas address to a crowd in St Peter’s Square, Pope Leo urged Ukraine and Russia to find the ‘courage’ to hold direct talks to end the war.
He called for an end to conflict around the world in the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi address, traditionally delivered at Christmas to the faithful gathered in Vatican City.
Regarding Ukraine, the Pope said: “I hope that the arms racket will stop and that the parties involved will find the courage to engage in serious, direct and respectful dialogue, supported by the support and commitment of the international community.”
His plea comes as U.S.-led negotiations to end the war continue.
The United States has been trying to mediate between Kiev and Moscow to reach an agreement to end the fighting acceptable to both sides, but no direct talks between the warring parties have taken place during this diplomatic effort.
Pope Leo also condemned the chaos and conflict plaguing other parts of the world, including Thailand and Cambodia, where deadly border clashes broke out despite a ceasefire in July.
He called on Southeast Asian countries to restore ‘old friendship’ and ‘work for reconciliation and peace’.
In his Christmas sermon at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo II lamented the situation of homeless people around the world and the damage caused by conflict.
“Fragile are the bodies of the defenseless population, left behind by the many ongoing and concluded wars, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said.
He said the story of Jesus’ birth shows that God pitched “his feeble tent” among the people of the world. “So how can you not think of the tents in Gaza that have been exposed to rain, wind and cold for weeks?” he asked, turning his attention to the situation in Palestine.
Gaza has been devastated by Israeli bombing during the two-year war, which was triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The winter storm further worsened the plight of the region’s 2.1 million people, leaving almost all of them homeless and their homes damaged or destroyed.
Aid groups have urged Israel to allow more tents and urgently needed supplies to Gaza.
Kogat, the Israeli military that controls the Gaza border, dismissed claims of deliberate aid restrictions, saying about 310,000 tents and tarpaulins had been delivered since the ceasefire began in October.
