VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis made a heartfelt plea for a ceasefire on all war fronts during his Sunday Angelus prayer ahead of Christmas, condemning the “cruelty” of attacks on schools and hospitals in Ukraine and Gaza.
Delivering his blessing indoors due to a cold and a busy upcoming schedule, the 88-year-old pontiff urged for peace during this sacred season:
“Let the weapons fall silent and let the Christmas carols ring out!” Francis declared. “Let us pray that at Christmas there will be a ceasefire on all war fronts, in Ukraine, in the Holy Land, throughout the Middle East and throughout the world.”
The pope, visibly moved, reflected on the suffering caused by ongoing conflicts. He once again lamented the plight of Ukraine, referring to it as a “battered” nation enduring relentless bombings:
“[Attacks] which sometimes damage schools, hospitals, and churches,” he noted.
Turning his attention to Gaza, Francis expressed deep sorrow over the humanitarian toll:
“Of such cruelty, to the machine-gunning of children, to the bombing of schools and hospitals… How much cruelty!” he said, visibly pained.
The pope also addressed recent developments in Gaza, where his envoy had been blocked from entering the territory due to Israeli airstrikes. However, on Sunday, Israeli authorities allowed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, to enter Gaza and hold a pre-Christmas Mass for the region’s small Christian community.
Israel has maintained that its military efforts target Hamas, which it accuses of instigating the war with genocidal violence, while emphasizing attempts to spare civilian lives.
Despite battling a cold and his long-standing respiratory issues, including partial lung removal as a young man, Pope Francis appeared in good health on Sunday. The Vatican cited the cold weather and his strenuous schedule ahead as reasons for holding the Angelus indoors.
The pope is set to lead a series of major events, starting with inaugurating the Holy Year on Tuesday, followed by presiding over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in St. Peter’s Basilica. On Thursday, he will visit Rome’s main prison to mark the Jubilee.
Francis’ Christmas message underscores his consistent call for global peace and interfaith unity, a theme central to his papacy, as the world grapples with enduring conflict during this festive season.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
