In his annual Christmas speech from St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Francis on Sunday urged an end to the “senseless” conflict in Ukraine.
The 86years old Pope also ask for stop of using “food as a weapon”
and issued a warning that the ten-month-old war was worsening the world’s food shortages.
Prior to saying the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, means “to the city and the world”
Speaking to the hundreds of worshipers gathered in St. Peter’s Square, some of whom were carrying Ukrainian flags, was the head of the Catholic Church.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, he has constantly called for peace while denouncing the conflict and attempting to continue a delicate conversation with Moscow.
He recalled in his speech delivered from St. Peter’s central balcony
“our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are experiencing this Christmas in the dark and cold, far from their homes”.
“May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!”
“Tragically, we prefer to heed other counsels, dictated by worldly ways of thinking”, he added, recalling “with sorrow” that “the icy winds of war continue to buffet humanity”.
“Our time is experiencing a grave famine of peace also in other regions and other theatres of this third world war,” he said.
He mentioned a number of nations that were experiencing difficulties this Christmas because of war or another catastrophe, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lebanon, Haiti, and Myanmar.
He also made a first-time request for “reconciliation”For the past three months, protests organized by women have shook Iran.In addition, the pope advised Christians who were celebrating Christmas to consider all
“who go hungry while huge amounts of food daily go to waste and resources are being spent on weapons”.
“The war in Ukraine has further aggravated this situation, putting entire peoples at risk of famine, especially in Afghanistan and in the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said.
“We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering.
“On this day, let us learn from the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ) and, starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace.”
“We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon… let us starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace,” His Christmas message.
