Pope Francis called for an end to the war in Gaza and the release of the hostages in his Christmas message

Pope Francis today called for the cessation of military operations in Gaza, the release of the hostages and for the Palestinian question to be faced, in his Christmas message, which he read while leaning out from the balcony of the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica before the ‘urbi et orbi’ blessing.

In this message, in which Pope Francis lists the world’s conflicts, he asked that peace “arrived in Israel and Palestine, where war shakes the lives of those populations” and I add: “I embrace both, in particular the Christian communities of Gaza, the parish of Gaza, and the entire Holy Land.”

The pope assured that he carries “in his heart the pain for the victims of the execrable attack of last October 7” although he did not mention the Islamists of Hamas, and renewed his call “for the release of those who are still held hostage.”

And continued: “I beg that military operations cease, with their dramatic consequences of innocent civilian casualties, and that the desperate humanitarian situation be remedied by allowing the arrival of aid.”

In his speech he gave special mention to the city of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. “Bethlehem where pain and silence reign these days. Today in Bethlehem in the midst of the darkness of the earth this inextinguishable flame has been lit, today in the midst of the darkness of the world God prevails, who illuminates every man.”

On the other hand, he urged “that violence and hatred not continue to be fueled, but that a solution be found.” solution to the Palestinian question, through sincere and persevering dialogue between the parties, supported by strong political will and the support of the international community”.

During the message, he also called for the end of the war in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen or that tensions between the two Koreas and in Sudan, South Sudan, Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of the Congo ceaseand called for the production of weapons to stop and criticized the allocation of huge amounts of public funds to weapons.

”But to say no to war it is necessary to say no to weapons. For if the man, whose heart is unstable and wounded, finds instruments of death in his hands, sooner or later he will use them. And how can we talk about peace if the production, sale and trade of weapons increase?” Francisco observed.

Francis also implored “peace for Ukraine,” which celebrates Christmas for the first time on December 25, changing the traditional Orthodox date of January 7 celebrated in Russia. “Let us renew our spiritual and human closeness to his beleaguered people, so that, through the support of each of us, they may feel the concrete reality of God’s love,” the Pope said.

The Pontiff also urged peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which have been locked in a territorial conflict for decades: “May it advance through the pursuit of humanitarian initiatives, the return of refugees to their homes in conditions of legality and security, and mutual respect.” of the religious traditions and places of worship of each community.”

Francis also referred to the “conflicts afflicting the Sahel region, the Horn of Africa and Sudan, as well as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.”

Likewise, he expressed his hope that tensions on the Korean Peninsula be resolved “by undertaking processes of dialogue and reconciliation capable of creating the conditions for lasting peace.”

The Argentine Pontiff reserved his last words for the American continentcalling on the “men of good will” so that they “find appropriate ways to resolve social and political conflictscombat forms of poverty that offend people’s dignity, reduce inequalities and face the worrying

(with information from EFE and AFP)