Pope urges war-torn world to walk through door of peace on Christmas
December 26, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.
VATICAN CITY – As millions of pilgrims prepare to cross through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis called on individuals, nations and the global community to take a transformative step toward peace and reconciliation by walking through the "door of salvation" that is Jesus Christ.
"Jesus is the door of peace," he said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 25. "This Christmas, at the beginning of the Jubilee Year, I invite every individual, and all peoples and nations, to find the courage needed to walk through that door, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions!"
Prior to offering his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world), the Pope prayed for various countries grappling with conflict and crisis.
Although there was a strong wind, the Roman sun shined brightly on the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray with the Pope.
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, praying for "the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace." Several Ukrainian flags were visible among the throngs of faithful.
Speaking while seated, the Pope then prayed for peace in the Middle East, asking that "the doors of dialogue and peace be flung open throughout the region."
"In contemplating the crib of Bethlehem, I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave," he said. "May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war."
The Pope also highlighted the plight of Christians in Lebanon and Syria "at this most delicate time." Just over two weeks after the fall of the Assad regime, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Damascus Dec. 24 to protest against anti-Christian sentiment following the burning of a Christmas tree in central Syria.
With the Holy Door standing open beneath him in the basilica, Pope Francis pleaded that the Jubilee be an occasion for global forgiveness, especially for alleviating the financial burdens of the world's poorest nations.
Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, a retired papal diplomat who negotiated debt-relief agreements for the world's poorest countries, stood alongside the Pope as he delivered his message from the balcony of the basilica.
Swiss Guards march in St. Peter's Square after Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message and blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25, 2024. CNS photo/Lola Gomez
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VATICAN CITY – As millions of pilgrims prepare to cross through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis called on individuals, nations and the global community to take a transformative step toward peace and reconciliation by walking through the "door of salvation" that is Jesus Christ.
"Jesus is the door of peace," he said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 25. "This Christmas, at the beginning of the Jubilee Year, I invite every individual, and all peoples and nations, to find the courage needed to walk through that door, to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sound of arms and overcome divisions!"
Prior to offering his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world), the Pope prayed for various countries grappling with conflict and crisis.
Although there was a strong wind, the Roman sun shined brightly on the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray with the Pope.
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, praying for "the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace." Several Ukrainian flags were visible among the throngs of faithful.
Speaking while seated, the Pope then prayed for peace in the Middle East, asking that "the doors of dialogue and peace be flung open throughout the region."
"In contemplating the crib of Bethlehem, I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave," he said. "May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war."
The Pope also highlighted the plight of Christians in Lebanon and Syria "at this most delicate time." Just over two weeks after the fall of the Assad regime, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Damascus Dec. 24 to protest against anti-Christian sentiment following the burning of a Christmas tree in central Syria.
With the Holy Door standing open beneath him in the basilica, Pope Francis pleaded that the Jubilee be an occasion for global forgiveness, especially for alleviating the financial burdens of the world's poorest nations.
Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, a retired papal diplomat who negotiated debt-relief agreements for the world's poorest countries, stood alongside the Pope as he delivered his message from the balcony of the basilica.
Swiss Guards march in St. Peter's Square after Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message and blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 25, 2024. CNS photo/Lola Gomez