Pope Francis has made a poignant plea for ceasefires everywhere as Christmas approaches, emphasizing the need to silence weapons and let carols fill the air. Speaking from indoors at the Vatican Sunday, the Pope highlighted the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, decrying the "cruelty" of attacks targeting schools and hospitals. Francis urged for peace across all global war fronts, expressing deep sorrow over the suffering in Gaza, particularly the "machine-gunning of children and the bombing of schools."
On Saturday, Pope Francis, 88, criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, revealing that his envoy faced challenges entering the territory due to Israeli bombings. However, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Church leader in the Holy Land, was allowed into Gaza to conduct a pre-Christmas Mass for the small Christian community there. Israel maintains that its conflict is focused solely on Hamas, which it holds responsible for violence in the region.
Despite recent health challenges related to bronchitis and a taxing schedule, the Pope appeared in good spirits. His recent indoor delivery of the Sunday Angelus comes after a slightly wheezy appearance during his Christmas greetings to Vatican officials. Looking ahead, Pope Francis is set to inaugurate the Holy Year and lead Christmas celebrations at St. Peter's Basilica, followed by a visit to Rome's main prison on Thursday to inaugurate the Jubilee. His packed schedule is managed carefully due to past health issues, including having part of a lung removed in his youth. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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