In a powerful message for peace, Pope Francis has opened global Christmas celebrations with a plea to end the devastating war in Gaza. The pontiff presided over the evening Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, attended by 6,500 people, where he expressed his concern that the message of peace that Jesus brought to the world is being drowned out by the “futile logic of war” in the very land of his birth.
Israel’s deadliest-ever war on Gaza has cast a shadow over the holiday season, and the pope’s words resonate with the ongoing violence and suffering in the region. “Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world,” said Pope Francis.
Emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas, the 87-year-old pontiff urged people not to be consumed by worldly success and the “idolatry of consumerism.” He spoke of the human desire for power, fame, and glory, which measures everything in terms of success and numbers, and highlighted the need to shift focus towards love and peace. “Tonight, love changes history,” he declared, draped in white robes.
Bethlehem, the biblical city in the occupied West Bank where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, has scaled back its annual Christmas celebrations this year due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The town canceled its usual extravagant festivities, settling for a simple display of festive lights. A massive Palestinian flag with a banner calling for a ceasefire in Gaza has been unfurled in the center of town.
The pope’s message comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify the ground war in Gaza. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that an Israeli attack killed at least 70 people in the Maghazi refugee camp and destroyed several houses. The war has taken a devastating toll, with over 20,000 people, mostly women and children, losing their lives since it began, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
Palestinian Minister of Tourism Rula Maayah expressed the somber atmosphere in Bethlehem, stating, “Bethlehem is celebrating Christmas with sadness and sorrow because of what’s happening in Gaza and in all the West Bank, all Palestinian territories.” The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, also expressed his concern for the Christian community in Gaza, which is bearing the brunt of the violence.
Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has consistently called for the release of captives. As the Christmas Eve Mass concluded, the pope, pushed in a wheelchair, carried a life-sized statue of baby Jesus and was accompanied by children carrying bouquets. The statue was placed in a nativity scene in the basilica, symbolizing the birth of Jesus and the hope for peace.
On Christmas Day, Pope Francis will deliver his annual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message and blessing, where he is expected to further address the need for peace and unity in the world.
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