At midday on Monday 25 December, Pope Francis delivered his traditional urbi et orbi blessing to the faithful around the world, during which he traditionally gave an overview of the world’s conflicts.
For believers and non-believers alike, Christmas is often seen as a time of truce. And yet, on 25 December, in many parts of the world, the clash of arms continues. This is clearly the case, first and foremost, in the Gaza Strip, where there is no respite. The Israeli air force and artillery continue to bomb the Gaza Strip on a massive scale.
In his traditional Christmas message on Monday, the Pope denounced the “desperate humanitarian situation” in Gaza, called for the release of the Israeli hostages still being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, and called for an end to the war, “madness without apology”. “I carry in my heart the pain of the victims of the heinous attack of 7 October and I renew my urgent appeal for the release of those who are still being held hostage”, declared Pope Francis, 87, in his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” (“to the city of Rome and to the world”) address.
“I call for an end to the military operations, with their appalling toll of innocent civilian victims, and for the desperate humanitarian situation to be remedied by opening the way for the arrival of humanitarian aid”, he added in front of several thousand pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square.
A gloomy Christmas, too, for the Palestinians of Bethlehem, which according to Christian tradition was the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
This year, the entire town in the occupied West Bank is draped in a veil of mourning. No gigantic Christmas tree, no flamboyant nativity scene. The war is on everyone’s mind more than ever. And that was also the meaning of Pope Francis’ message at last night’s Christmas Mass in St Peter’s Basilica:
“Our heart, this evening, is in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is still rejected by the losing logic of war, with the clash of weapons that, even today, prevents him from finding a place in the world.”
The Pontiff also had a thought for the people of Syria, Yemen and Lebanon, praying that the latter would quickly return to political and social stability. And for Ukraine: “With my eyes fixed on the Infant Jesus, I implore peace for Ukraine,” continued the Holy Father.
No respite
Again this morning, on the 80th day of the war, an Israeli army bombardment killed 12 people near a small village in the centre of the besieged enclave, 18 last night. The whole weekend, moreover, was particularly deadly: at least 70 people were killed in a strike on a refugee camp, according to the Hamas government. Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, the conflict still offers no respite to civilians.
And despite everything, Netanyahu has announced an “intensification” of the fighting…
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu announced that he had travelled to Gaza on Monday and promised members of his Likud party that he would “intensify” the fighting under way in the Palestinian territory against Hamas.
