Pope calls for end to Middle East war in Christmas message
Francis then addressed the faithful around the world and gave the solemn blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world).
He called for an end to the military operations "with their appalling consequence of innocent civilian victims", said Francis in front of several thousand pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. The desperate humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip must be remedied by opening it up to humanitarian aid transports, he said.
In the long term, the Pontiff called for "the Palestinian question to be resolved through a sincere and persistent dialog between the parties, backed by strong political will and the support of the international community".
The Argentinian Pope named Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, among other conflict regions. He prayed that they would "quickly find their way back to political and social stability". Francis also wished "peace for Ukraine", where the predominantly Christian Orthodox Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25 for the first time this year instead of January 7. Francis also included the people in the two hostile Caucasus states of Armenia and Azerbaijan in his prayers for peace.
In his Christmas message last year, Francis called in vain for an end to the "senseless war" in Ukraine. This year, Christmas is overshadowed not only by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, but also by the war between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
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- Despite the urgency of the Pope's demand for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, radical Islamic group Hamas continues its conflicts with Israel.
- The Christmas message from Pope Francis this year echoed his plea from last year, calling for an end to the senseless war in Ukraine.
- Many people in the Gaza Strip are hoping that the Pope's words will encourage international efforts to open up humanitarian aid transit to the troubled region.
- The Pope's Christmas message was delivered from St. Peter's Cathedral, a symbolic location in the heart of Rome, parked on Peter's Platz.
- The Palestinian question will not be easily resolved, according to the Pontiff, and will require a sustained dialogue between parties with strong political will and the support of the global community.
- For the first time, the predominantly Christian Orthodox Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on December 25, a significant moment that the Pope also acknowledged in his Christmas message.
Source: www.stern.de
