Leo XIV expressed “great sadness” at Russia’s rejection of the request for a Christmas truce. In this sense, he calls on “all people of good will” to respect at least 24 hours of peace. The pontiff also addressed the “precarious” situation in Gaza.
The Pope expressed this Tuesday “great sadness” that Russia rejected the call for a truce and called for war to be stopped worldwide for at least 24 hours on Christmas Day.
“One of the things that makes me Great sadness is that Russia apparently rejected the call for a Christmas truce. I make this request to all people of good will to respect at least the feast of the Savior’s birth, a day of peace“, said Leo XIV as he left his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of the Vatican.
“I hope you listen to us so that there will be 24 hours of peace, one day of peace, throughout the world“, he insisted.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, he recalled that, a few days ago, the parish of the Holy Trinity, the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave, received a visit from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzabala.
Furthermore, the pope spoke today with the parish priest, Argentine Gabriel Romanelli.
“They are trying to organize Christmas, although the situation is very precarious. Let us hope that the agreement for the peace continue“, he commented.
At the end of a three-day visit to the Gaza Strip, Cardinal Pizzaballa stated that “the problems persist“.
“Houses, schools and hospitals need to be rebuilt. population lives in extreme poverty, surrounded by sewage and garbagebut at the same time, they yearn to rebuild their lives”, he described.
