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In Christmas Day message, pope decries Gaza’s ‘appalling harvest’ of civilian deaths

Pope Francis looks on as he delivers his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message to the city and the world from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, December 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yara NardiĀ 

Pope Francis, in his Christmas message on Monday, referred to children dying in wars, including in Gaza, as the “little Jesuses of today.” He expressed concern about the impact of Israeli strikes in Gaza, describing them as reaping an “appalling harvest” of innocent civilians. The Pope also condemned the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants as “abominable” and called for the release of approximately 100 hostages still held in Gaza.

During his Christmas address from St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis criticized the armaments industry, stating that it ultimately controlled the “puppet-strings of war.” He called for an end to conflicts in various regions, including Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, while defending the rights of migrants globally.

Particular attention was given to the Holy Land, including Gaza, where Israeli air strikes reportedly killed at least 78 people. Pope Francis called for peace in Israel and Palestine, expressing concern for the devastating impact of war on the people in those regions, especially the Christian communities of Gaza.

The Pope pleaded for an end to military operations causing civilian casualties and urged a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation through the provision of aid. He cited a recent report indicating a crisis of hunger in Gaza, with the risk of famine increasing daily.

Emphasizing the Vatican’s support for a two-state solution, Pope Francis called for persevering dialogue between parties, sustained by strong political will and international community support. He dedicated a portion of his message to the arms trade, questioning how peace can be achieved when arms production, sales, and trade are on the rise. The Pope called for increased scrutiny of the armaments trade to expose the interests and profits behind the “puppet-strings of war.”

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