Pope in Christmas Day message calls for talks to end war between Ukraine and Russia

Pope Francis has called for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In his traditional Christmas Day speech, the Pope said that “boldness was necessary to open the door” to dialogue “to achieve a just and lasting peace” between the two parties.

His appeal continued a major Russian attack on the same day against Ukrainian energy facilitieswhich according to Ukraine involved at least 184 missiles and drones.

Earlier this year, Ukraine strongly rejected a call by the pontiff for kyiv 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 addressed other conflicts.

Before thousands 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 to overcome divisions,” he said.

Reiterating the Christmas Day message he delivered last year, Pope Francis 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, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious,” he said.

He asked that “the doors of dialogue and peace be opened wide.”

The war in Gaza began after the territory’s rulers, Hamas, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took another 251 to Gaza as hostages. More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, says Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Earlier this week, the Pope twice described Israel’s attacks as “cruelty,” earning him a harsh rebuke from Israel, which called the comments “particularly disappointing.”

Pope Francis also said his thoughts were with 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 declined since the start of the war in 2011, and reports suggest it is now a fraction of the pre-war total of about 1.5 million.

Syria’s minorities have expressed fear about their future in the country since Islamist rebels took power, although the main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has said all religions will be protected.