[ad_1]
Pope Francis sent his Christmas message and annual greeting “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) from the Vatican on Wednesday. Call for global peace and an end to ongoing conflicts
Roman Catholic Church leaders directly addressed the war between Russia and Ukraine. and called for “The courage needed to open the door to dialogue” during a speech that served as a summary of the adversity the world has faced this year
“May the sound of arms be silenced in Ukraine,” Francis said from the central balcony of a St. Petersburg cathedral. St. Peter’s Basilica to thousands of people in the square below. He also called for “A posture of dialogue and confrontation to achieve a just and lasting peace”
Francis, 88, is celebrating his 12th Christmas as pope by calling for an end to conflicts, political, social or military, in places including Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
The Pope refrained from praying outdoors on Sunday after experiencing a cold day ahead of Christmas Eve Mass.
Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” address from the saint’s central balcony. St. Peter’s Basilica. (Vatican News/YouTube)
This year, Francis, who has served as pope since 2013, has been criticized by Ukrainian officials. When he said the country should have “white flag” courage to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously refused to join peace talks. without the restoration of Ukraine’s pre-war borders. But Zelensky has shown increased willingness in the weeks since Donald Trump was elected US president. again to enter into negotiations
President-elect Trump appoints outspoken conservative as Vatican ambassador: ‘Blessing and responsibility’
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference on July 8, 2023 in Lviv, Ukraine. (Mykola Tys/Ukraine Worldwide Images via Getty Images)
Francis, who has recently been increasingly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. They also called again for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. and asked for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
He called the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip “unfavorable”. He called it “extremely serious” and asked “the doors of dialogue and peace to be opened”.
Hamas protesters and relatives who were taken hostage during the Oct. 1, 7 attacks against Israel protest on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States, on Tuesday, July 23. 2024 (Gram Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Christmas marks the start of celebrations for the 2025 Holy Year, which is expected to bring about 32 million Catholics to Rome, according to the Associated Press.
Pilgrims lined up early Wednesday morning to walk through the grand holy gates at the entrance to St. Petersburg cathedral. St. Peter’s Basilica. Entering the Holy Gate is one way that believers can receive service or forgiveness of sins during the Jubilee Year. It’s a once-every-quarter-century tradition that dates back to the 1300s.
Thousands of people listened to Pope Francis deliver Christmas greetings and blessings from the Vatican on December 1, 2024. (Vatican News/YouTube)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
on Christmas Eve Pope Francis knocked on the door and was the first person to walk through it. He marked the opening ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Year 2025, which he dedicated to hope.
The Catholic Jubilee Year, also known as Jubilee, is a time of peace, forgiveness and forgiveness.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link
