Pope Francis on Monday used his annual Christmas address to push for Mideast peace while blasting weapons makers and their “instruments of death” for helping to fuel such conflicts.
Standing on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and speaking to the more than 6,000 devoted Catholics below, the pontiff decried Hamas’ “abominable attack” on Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of the more than 120 hostages still being held by the Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.
At the same time, Francis begged Israel to stop its retaliatory military action in Gaza and the “appalling harvest of innocent civilians” as he called for the country to allow more humanitarian aid into the region.
Francis went on to argue that the real message of Christmas is peace and love.
“Isaiah, who prophesized the Prince of Peace, spoke about a day in which one nation will not lift up sword against another nation,” the pontiff said. “He wrote of a day when people will no longer learn the art of war but instead beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
“With God’s help, let us make every effort so that day will come.”
The pope then said he embraces all people involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, “particularly the Christian communities of Gaza, the parish of Gaza, and the entire Holy Land.”
Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for ‘to the city and to the world’) Christmas Day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. APHe also highlighted the suffering of the children, whom he called “the little Jesuses of today,” as he called for peace between Israel and Hamas — saying the conflict should be resolved “through sincere and persevering dialogue between the parties, sustained by strong political will and the support of the international community.”
But Francis did not just focus on the conflict in Israel in his annual “Urbi et Orbi,” or “To the City and the World,” speech, also discussing issues in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, South Sudan, the Congo and the Korean peninsula.
The pope appealed for humanitarian aid and dialogue in these regions, too, and also called for governments — particularly in the Americas — to address the “troubling phenomenon” of illegal immigration and its “unscrupulous traffickers.”
Hitting out at the weapons industry, Francis argued that it is fueling conflicts around the globe.
People stand by Ukrainian flags as they listen to Pope Francis delivering the Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Monday Dec. 25, 2023. APThe pope called on people to pay more attention to the amount of their tax dollars going to weaponry.
“It should be talked about and written about so as to bring to light the interests and the profits that move the puppet strings of war,” Francis said. “And how can we even speak of peace when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?”
Francis went on to say that today’s wars — particularly the one in Ukraine — are simply being used to try out new weapons or use up old stockpiles.
He has spoken out in recent months in support of a cease-fire in the Israel war with Hamas and has called for a release of the hostages.
The Vatican — which maintains diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority — believes that a two-state solution is the only answer to the decades-long feud.
With Post wires
