Pope Francis used Christmas Mass in St. Peter's Basilica as a reminder of peace. The head of some 1.3 billion Catholics recalled the Christmas message “Peace on Earth for Men” at the Vatican service this evening.
APA/AFP/Tiziana Fabi
Referring to the war in the Middle East, Francis added: “Our hearts are in Bethlehem tonight, where the Prince of Peace is still repelled by the condemned logic of war, by the noise of weapons.”
This year the festival is particularly influenced by the wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. According to the Vatican, around 7,000 people attended the religious service in St. Peter's Basilica. Furthermore, the events in St. Peter's Square, in front of the church, were watched by thousands of people on big screens.