As Christmas approaches, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed plea for peace, urging the world to observe at least one full day without violence in honor of the birth of Christ.
Speaking to journalists on December 23 outside Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father called on “all people of good will” to respect a temporary halt to fighting during the Christmas feast. “That, at least on the feast of the birth of the Saviour, one day of peace may be respected,” the Pope said, according to Vatican News.
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The appeal comes amid escalating global conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, where recent Russian attacks have intensified suffering during the Advent and Christmas season. Pope Leo expressed deep sorrow over reports that a proposed Christmas truce had been rejected. “Truly, among the things that cause me great sadness in these days is the fact that Russia has apparently refused the request for a Christmas truce,” he said. He added that his hope remains that “there will be 24 hours – one full day of peace throughout the world,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope also addressed the fragile situation in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza City, where Christians are attempting to celebrate Christmas amid ongoing instability. Recalling a recent pastoral visit by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pope Leo shared that he had been in contact with Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Church of the Holy Family. “They are trying to celebrate the feast in the midst of a situation that remains very precarious,” the Pope said, expressing hope “that the peace agreement will move forward,” according to Vatican News.
Turning his attention to the United States, Pope Leo addressed a matter closer to home: the passage of an assisted suicide law in Illinois, his home state. The law allows assisted suicide for terminally ill adults beginning in September 2026. The Pope revealed that he had spoken directly with JB Pritzker about the legislation during a Vatican meeting last November, when the bill was already awaiting the governor’s decision.
“We were very clear about the need to respect the sacredness of life, from beginning to end,” Pope Leo said, adding, “And unfortunately…he decided to sign that bill. I am very disappointed by this,” according to Vatican News.
In light of both global conflict and moral challenges, the Pope urged renewed reflection during the Christmas season on the meaning of human life itself. “God became human like us in order to show us what it truly means to live human life,” he said. He concluded with a prayerful hope that “respect for life may grow once again at every moment of human existence, from conception to natural death,” according to Vatican News.
As the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV’s words serve as a solemn reminder that Christmas is not only a feast of joy, but also a call to peace, mercy, and reverence for life in every corner of the world.
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