Pope Leo 14 criticized this Thursday (25) what he called “the absurdity of war talk” and the “open wounds” that wars leave in the world during his first Christmas as top leader of the Catholic Church.
During the traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city (of Rome) and to the world”, in Latin) in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff called on Russia and Ukraine to have the courage to dialogue in a “sincere, direct and respectful way”. He also deplored the living conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The pontiff said the story of Jesus’ birth in a stable showed that God had “pitched his fragile tent” among the people of the world. “How then can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?” he asked.
The religious man, elected pope in May, had already deplored the situation of the Palestinians during the war between Israel and Hamas at other times of his pontificate. In November, he met with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. At the time, the Vatican said leaders discussed the need to “end the conflict by seeking a two-state solution (one Jewish and one Palestinian).”
Israel and Hamas established a ceasefire in October. However, the situation of Palestinians in Gaza is critical, according to international organizations. Last week, the Integrated Food Security Classification, a UN-backed initiative monitoring global food insecurity, reported that the spread of hunger in Gaza has been contained. At the same time, the report warns that progress is “extremely fragile”.
During the homily, Leo 14 also addressed conflicts in general. “Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tested by so many ongoing or completed wars that leave rubble and open wounds. Fragile are the minds and lives of young people forced to take up arms who, on the front lines, feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the lies that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their death.”
Delivering the “Urbi et Orbi” message and blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope once again mentioned other wars around the world, citing countries like Sudan, Mali, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia. He called for an end to all conflicts and encouraged negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, ongoing since 2022 and the largest in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
“Let us pray particularly for the Ukrainian people in difficulty, so that the thunder of arms ceases and that the parties concerned, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to dialogue in a sincere, direct and respectful manner,” he said.
Leo 14 also deplored the situation of immigrants and refugees on the American continent: the religious man, who in the past had criticized the anti-immigration policy of Donald Trump, today avoids making political references and did not mention the name of the President of the United States this Thursday. Born in Chicago and holding American and Peruvian nationality, 14-year-old Léon was the first pope of the United States.
On Wednesday evening (24), criticizing what he called “the greed of the modern world” during his first midnight mass, the pope said that refusing aid to the poor and foreigners is tantamount to rejecting God.
The pontiff also spoke about Latin America and its leaders. “May the Child Jesus inspire those who have political responsibilities in Latin America, so that, in the face of the many challenges, space is granted to dialogue for the common good and not to ideological and partisan exclusions,” he declared after the mass.
Before being elected to the conclave, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost had commanded the Dicastery for Bishops and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. Earlier this month, Leo 14 said the US government should not attempt to overthrow the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela through the use of military force and defended the path of dialogue.
About The Author
