The Pope appealed for peace today as he opened Christmas celebrations with a mass in St. Peter's Basilica as war rages between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once again rejected by the futile logic of war, by the battle of arms that, even today, prevents him from finding a place in the world,” the pope said to around 6,500 Believers who took part in the traditional church service.
In his address, Francis did not mention Israel or Gaza by name, but made several mentions of violence and war and argued that justice cannot come “through a show of force.”
The 87-year-old pope said that Jesus “removes injustice not from above, through a demonstration of violence, but from below, through a demonstration of love.”
“He does not burst onto the scene with limitless force,” he said in Italian, with an official translation in seven languages.
Pope Francis will lead Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
Pope Francis (r.) greets a child who leads midnight mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
Pope Francis (r.) leads the midnight mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
During his weekly Angelus prayer today, the pope said: “We stand close to our brothers and sisters who are suffering from war – we think of Palestine, of Israel, of Ukraine.”
On Christmas Day, the pope will lead the traditional “Urbi and Orbi” prayer at 11 a.m. GMT, during which he usually mentions conflicts around the world.
The pope spoke hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push deeper into the Palestinian enclave of Gaza after his troops suffered one of the worst days of losses in their ground war.
In the city where Jesus was born, Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Ma'ayah said: “Bethlehem celebrates Christmas with sadness and sorrow because of what is happening in Gaza and throughout the West Bank and all Palestinian territories.”
Pope Francis (l.) leads the midnight mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
Cardinals hug during Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on December 24, 2023
Children come to St. Peter's Basilica for Christmas Night Mass with Pope Francis in Vatican City on December 24, 2023
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
Pope Francis leads the Christmas Night Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2023 in Vatican City
Pope Francis (C) leads the midnight mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, December 24, 2023
Pope Francis will lead Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Sunday, December 24, 2023
Pope Francis delivers his homily during Christmas Night Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on December 24, 2023 in Vatican City
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 24, 2023
A Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 killed around 1,140 people, most of them civilians.
The Palestinian terrorists also kidnapped around 250 people, of whom Israel says 129 are still in the Gaza Strip.
Israel responded with a sustained bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, killing 20,424 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest tally from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Francis has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the conflict and called for the release of all hostages.
Palestinians wait to pick up food at a donation point in a refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on December 24, 2023
Palestinians rescue their belongings after an Israeli attack in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, December. 24. 2023