Pope Francis: "Our heart is in Bethlehem today"
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East characterize the year 2023. Pope Francis takes the traditional Christmas Mass as an opportunity to condemn the "noise of weapons". The pontiff proclaims his Christmas message in front of thousands of believers.
Pope Francis used the Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica as a reminder for peace. The head of the approximately 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide recalled the Christmas message "Peace on earth to men" at the service in the Vatican. With regard to the war in the Middle East, Francis added: "Our hearts are in Bethlehem tonight, where the Prince of Peace is still rejected by the doomed logic of war, by the noise of weapons."
This year's feast is particularly marked by the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. According to the Vatican, around 7,000 people took part in the service in St. Peter's Basilica. Thousands also followed the events on St. Peter's Square in front of the church on large screens. On Monday, Pope Francis then spoke the Urbi et Orbi blessing to the city and the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
Christmas is being celebrated very quietly in the Holy Land this year due to the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. In Bethlehem in the West Bank - according to tradition the birthplace of Jesus Christ - there are hardly any tourists, unlike usual. Christmas trees have been dispensed with. Access to the city is extremely restricted by Israeli army roadblocks. There are practically no Christmas decorations in Jerusalem either.
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- Pope Francis condemned the ongoing wars and conflicts, specifically mentioning the "noise of weapons" in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, during his traditional Christmas Mass at the Vatican.
- The Catholic Church, led by Pope Francis, has expressed its concern for the safety and peace of Christians around the world, particularly during the Christmas season, as seen in the Vatican's Christmas message and the Urbi et Orbi blessing.
- The Vatican has shown solidarity with those affected by conflicts, such as the war in Gaza between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, which has resulted in minimal Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.
- Pope Francis, the leader of millions of Catholics globally, has frequently spoken out against wars and conflicts, advocating for peace and unity, and urging world leaders to prioritize reconciliation over conflict in international relations, as seen in his Christmas message.
Source: www.ntv.de
