Overview
- He appealed for a 24-hour worldwide Christmas truce across all conflicts.
- He urged an honest, direct and respectful dialogue to end the war in Ukraine, saying the thunder of arms should cease.
- He expressed sadness that Russia rejected a proposed Christmas ceasefire.
- He highlighted acute humanitarian suffering in Gaza and other overlooked wars, noting tents exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold.
- He revived papal customs by restoring a morning Christmas Mass and offering greetings in ten languages as 26,000 gathered on a rain-soaked St. Peter’s Square.