Vatican City: On Christmas Day, Pope Francis used his “Urbi et Orbi” address to call for talks between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing the need for negotiations to end the war that erupted after Russia’s full-scale invasion two years ago. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.
In his Christmas Day message, Pope Francis directly addressed the war in Ukraine, urging for “the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation.” Speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said, “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine!” He further called for “gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
This appeal for dialogue comes amid ongoing tensions. Pope Francis was criticized earlier this year by Ukrainian officials after suggesting that Ukraine should be brave enough to wave the “white flag” in an effort to negotiate peace with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who had previously ruled out peace talks without the restoration of Ukraine’s pre-war borders, has shown a shift in approach. In recent weeks, especially after the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump, Zelenskiy has indicated a growing openness to diplomatic solutions.
Earlier this month, Zelenskiy proposed a potential diplomatic resolution that would involve “freezing” current battle lines and deploying foreign troops in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has insisted that Ukraine abandon its ambitions to join the NATO alliance.
In his address, Pope Francis, 88, who celebrated the 12th Christmas of his pontificate, also called for an end to conflicts around the world, including in Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
Criticism of Israel’s Gaza Campaign and Call for Ceasefire
Pope Francis, who has recently been more critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, referred to it as “cruelty” in his comments last week. He reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict and urged the release of remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, he said, is “extremely grave,” and he called for “the doors of dialogue and peace (to) be flung open.”
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The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has resulted in over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, mostly among civilians, according to Hamas-run health authorities. The ongoing campaign has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, leaving much of the enclave in ruins.
Holy Year and Appeal for Peace
Pope Francis also announced the opening of a Holy Year for the global Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, which will run until January 6, 2026. The Jubilee is traditionally seen as a time for peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
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The Pope stated that the Holy Year should serve as a moment for “every individual, and all peoples and nations … to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions.” He called for efforts to “tear down all walls of separation,” including a “mutually agreed solution” to dismantle the border wall dividing the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which has been separated since 1974 between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
