Christmas:  Pope calls for ‘arms to be silenced’.

In his Christmas address, Pope Francis called for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan and condemned the “extremely grave” humanitarian situation in Gaza. He also asked for “arms to be silenced” globally.

He used his usual “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city and the world”) speech to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to urge for talks for a just peace in Ukraine, which had been bombarded by 170 Russian missiles and drones on Christmas morning.

“May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine,” the 88-year-old Pope exclaimed, his voice strained and breathless. “May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation, to gestures of dialogue, and to encounters in order to achieve just and lasting peace.”

In front of thousands of faithful assembled in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, he also called for a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

“I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is dire. “May there be a ceasefire, the hostages be released, and aid be provided to the people who have been exhausted by hunger and war,” he added.

Francis expanded his plea to silence armaments to the entire Middle East, including Sudan, which has been decimated by a devastating civil war and is facing starvation for millions of people.

“May the Son of the Most High sustain the efforts of the international community to facilitate access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population of Sudan and to initiate new negotiations for a ceasefire,” the prophet added.