Pope Leo XIV issued an appeal for peace in Ukraine in his first Christmas address as pope to thousands of the faithful on St Peter’s Square in Rome on Thursday.
Leo asked that “the clamour of weapons cease” and urged all involved in the war in Ukraine to find the courage to engage in “sincere, direct, and respectful dialogue” with the support of the international community.
Noting other global conflicts, the pope mentioned victims of war and violence in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Turning to the Middle East, he prayed for “justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria.”
Leo recalled that on a recent trip to the region he had heard the fears of the people and knew their feelings of powerlessness in the face of the power relations they suffered under. He made special mention of the people of Gaza who had lost everything.
In conclusion, he spoke the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) blessing.
