His Holiness Pope Francis I called for an end to ongoing armed conflicts and civil unrest in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere in his annual Christmas message.
Titled “Urbi Et Orbi,” which translates to “Cities and Worlds,” the pontiff told all peoples the door is open to return to reconcile with God, end divisions, forgive debts, and come to Jesus, who is the “Prince of Peace.”
His Holiness specifically implored his global audience that “the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” and the Middle East.
He asked for the “boldness” necessary to open to begin peace negotiations and dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, for hostages still held in Gaza to be freed, and for humanitarian aid to be given. He also drew attention to the Christian communities in Syria and Lebanon.
“In contemplating the Crib of Bethlehem, I think of the Christian communities in Palestine and in Israel, particularly the dear community in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave,” he said.
“I express my closeness to the Christian community in Lebanon, especially in the south, and to that of Syria, at this most delicate time,” he added. ”May the doors of dialogue and peace be flung open throughout the region, devastated by conflict.”
Turning to the northwest, Pope Francis highlighted the island of Cyprus, which has been divided by a U.N. buffer zone between Turkish and Greek populations for 50 years.
“It is my hope that a mutually agreed solution will be found, a solution that can put an end to the division in full respect for the rights and dignity of all the Cypriot communities,” he said.
Pope Francis drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Burma, also known as Myanmar, praying that “the proclamation of Christmas brings comfort” to those people who have been “forced to flee their homes.”
He also called for “effective solutions, in justice and truth, to promote social harmony” across the American continents, specifically mentioning Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua, and he prayed for peace and relief for people in several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mozambique, the nations in the Horn of Africa, and Sudan.
His Holiness ended his address by asking for this coming year to be “an opportunity to forgive debts, especially those that burden the poorest countries.”
“Each of us is called to forgive those who have trespassed against us, because the Son of God, born in the cold and darkness of the night, has forgiven our own,” he said.
