Pope Francis has called for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In his traditional Christmas Day speech, the Pope said “courage [was] is necessary to open the door to dialogue “to achieve a just and lasting peace” between the two sides.
His call followed a major Russian attack the same day on Ukraine’s energy facilities, which Ukraine said involved at least 184 missiles and drones.
Earlier this year, Ukraine strongly rejected a call from the pope for Kiev to negotiate an end to the war and “have the courage to raise the white flag.”
His message Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) also touched on other conflicts.
Speaking to thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the 88-year-old pope declared: “May the sound of weapons be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” and beyond.
“I invite every individual and all people of all nations to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of weapons and overcome divisions,” he said.
Pope Francis reiterated the Christmas message he delivered last year and also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious,” he said.
He asked that “the doors of dialogue and peace be thrown open.”
The war in Gaza began after the territory’s Hamas rulers attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took another 251 people as hostages into Gaza. More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza says.
Earlier this week, the Pope twice described Israel’s attacks as “cruelty,” earning a sharp rebuke from Israel, which called the comments “particularly disappointing.”
Pope Francis also said his thoughts were with the Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria, where rebels recently overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after 24 years in power. Syria’s Christian population has dwindled since the war began in 2011, and reports suggest it is now a fraction of the pre-war total of around 1.5 million.
Syria’s minorities have expressed fears about their future in the country since Islamist rebels took power – although the leading rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has said all faiths will be protected.
