In his Christmas message, Pope Francis called for "silence of arms" in Ukraine, UNN reports citing Vatican News.
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"Let the weapons be silent in long-suffering Ukraine! May there be the courage to open the door to negotiations and gestures of dialogue and encounter in order to achieve a just and lasting peace," Pope Francis said.
"Let the weapons be silent in the Middle East! Looking closely at the cradle of Bethlehem, I turn my thoughts to the Christian communities in Palestine and Israel, especially to the dear community in Gaza, where there is a very difficult humanitarian situation. Let there be a ceasefire, hostages be released, and aid be provided to the population exhausted by hunger and war. I am also close to the Christian community in Lebanon, especially in the south, as well as to the Christian community in Syria in this very delicate period. May the doors of dialogue and peace open throughout the region, which is torn by conflicts. I would like to mention the Libyan people at this point as well, encouraging them to seek solutions that will make national reconciliation possible," the pontiff said.
Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message at noon on Christmas Day, December 25, from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, after which he gave the solemn blessing of the Urbi et Orbi to all those gathered in the square.