Pope Francis, in his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday, called on “all people of all nations” to find courage this Holy Year “to silence the noise of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine , from Africa to Asia.
The Pope’s address “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) serves as a summary of the hardships facing the world this year. Since Christmas coincided with the start of the Holy Year 2025 celebrations, which he dedicated to hope, Francis called for comprehensive reconciliation, “even (with) our enemies.”
“I invite each individual and all people of all nations to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the noise of weapons and to overcome divisions,” the pope said from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the crowds below.
The Pope invoked the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, which he opened on Christmas Eve to kick off the 2025 Jubilee, as a symbol of God’s mercy that “unties every knot; it tears down every wall of division; it drives out hatred and the spirit of revenge.”
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He called for silencing the guns in war-torn Ukraine and the Middle East, highlighting Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, “particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious.” , as well as in Lebanon and Syria, this extremely sensitive time.
Francis reiterated his calls for the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas from Israel on October 7, 2023.
He cited a deadly measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the suffering of people in Myanmar forced to leave their homes by “the ongoing armed struggle.” The Pope also remembered children suffering from war and hunger, old people living in loneliness, people fleeing their homes, those who have lost their jobs and people persecuted for their faith become.
The anniversary is expected to attract millions to Rome
Pilgrims lined up to pass through the large Holy Door at the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day, as the anniversary is expected to bring some 32 million Catholic faithful to Rome.
Passage through the Holy Door is a way for the faithful to obtain indulgences or forgiveness of their sins during a jubilee, a quarter-century tradition that dates back to the 1300s.
Pilgrims underwent security checks before entering the Holy Door amid fresh security fears after a deadly attack on a Christmas market in Germany.
Many stopped, touched the door as they passed and crossed themselves as they entered the basilica dedicated to St. Peter, the founder of the Roman Catholic Church.
“You feel so humbled when you walk through the door that it’s almost like a release, a release of emotions,” said Blanca Martin, a pilgrim from San Diego. “You almost feel like a release of emotions.” Like now, you can let go and put everything in the hands of God. See, I’m getting emotional. It’s just a nice experience.
