Pope Francis has urged Ukraine and Russia to engage in negotiations to end the ongoing conflict sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In his traditional Christmas Day address, the Pope emphasized the need for “boldness” to open the door to dialogue in order to secure a “just and lasting peace.”
His appeal came on the same day as a major Russian attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which Ukrainian officials reported involved at least 184 missiles and drones.
Earlier this year, the Pope’s call for Ukraine to negotiate a peace settlement and consider surrendering—by “raising the white flag”—was rejected by Kyiv, who dismissed such a suggestion as impractical given the scale of Russia’s aggression.
Speaking to thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the 88-year-old Pope said, “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine and beyond.” He called on people of all nations to become “pilgrims of hope” and work together to “silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions.”
In his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message, the Pope also addressed other ongoing conflicts. He repeated last year’s plea for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Referring to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 45,000 Palestinians have died since Israel’s military response to the Hamas-led attack in October, the Pope said, “I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza.”
The Pope also expressed concern for Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria, highlighting the challenges faced by these populations amid ongoing instability. He noted that Syria’s Christian population has significantly dwindled since the start of the civil war in 2011 and that minority groups in the country fear for their future.
Earlier in the week, Pope Francis had condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “cruelty,” a statement that provoked a sharp rebuke from Israel, which described the remarks as “particularly disappointing.”
