Pope Francis called for peace around the world and an end to global conflicts in his annual Christmas message “Urbi et Orbi” to the faithful.
Speaking from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Francis reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and urged the Islamic militant group to release remaining hostages, urging “opening the doors of dialogue and peace”. Did. ) be thrown out into the open.”
The 88-year-old Pope also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine and called for “the courage needed to open the door to dialogue” in the nearly three-year-old conflict.
“The sound of weapons in Ukraine must be silenced,” he told the large crowd, adding that “signs of dialogue and confrontation are needed to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
The Pope celebrated his 12th Christmas as head of the Roman Catholic Church by calling for an end to bloodshed and political turmoil in global crisis spots including Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
He also opened the Great Holy Door at St. Peter’s to mark the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee – a year-long celebration that occurs every quarter that allows pilgrims who enter to be forgiven for their sins.
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