Pope Francis met with members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year. In his address, His Holiness touched on a range of global issues, delivering a comprehensive message that emphasized the pressing need to address international crises and challenges. He highlighted the pivotal role of quiet diplomacy—a diplomacy rooted in hope and justice—and expressed his aspiration that the Jubilee Year 2025 would usher in an era of renewed hope, justice, and peace worldwide.
Turning his attention to the Palestinian issue, Pope Francis reiterated his urgent call for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. He described the current humanitarian conditions as not only dangerous but also profoundly shameful. The Pope urged the international community to ensure Palestinians receive the necessary aid and assistance.
Expressing his hope for a peaceful resolution, he envisioned a future where Israelis and Palestinians rebuild bridges of dialogue and trust, starting with the younger generations. His Holiness emphasized the need for future generations to coexist peacefully in two independent states, with Jerusalem as a “city of encounter” where Christians, Jews, and Muslims live in harmony and respect.
He also reflected on the 10th anniversary of the historic prayer for peace in the Holy Land, held on June 8, 2014, in the Vatican Gardens. That event brought together then-President of Israel, Shimon Peres, and President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas. It served as a poignant reminder that dialogue is always possible and that we cannot give in to the idea that enmity and hatred between peoples will have the upper hand.
In this context, Pope Francis spoke forcefully against the ongoing proliferation of advanced and destructive weaponry, which he described as a driver of violence and instability. He stated, “this morning, I reiterate my appeal that “with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favor development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory solutions, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life … War is always a failure! The involvement of civilians, especially children, and the destruction of infrastructures is not only a disaster, but essentially means that between the two sides only evil emerges the winner.”
The Pope underscored that war is always a profound failure. He condemned the killing of civilians, particularly children, and the destruction of vital infrastructure, stating that such actions represent not just a loss but the triumph of evil. “We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians or the attacking of infrastructures necessary for their survival. We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country’s energy network has been hit.” he added.
He further questioned the international community’s commitment to upholding humanitarian law, pointing out the glaring gap between agreements on paper and their practical implementation. “If we have forgotten what lies at the very foundation of our existence, the sacredness of life, the principles that move the world, how can we think that this right is effectively respected? We need to recover these values and to embody them in precepts of the public conscience, so that the principle of humanity will truly be the basis of our activity.”
Ambassador Issa Kassissieh, the Palestine’s ambassador to the Holy See and a member of the Presidential High Committee for Church Affairs, conveyed President Mahmoud Abbas’s heartfelt greetings to Pope Francis. He extended Christmas and New Year wishes and expressed profound gratitude for the Pope’s continued prayers for justice and peace in the Holy City and for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
The ambassador also thanked His Holiness for the warm reception extended to President Abbas during his visit on December 12, 2024, and for blessing the Nativity Grotto of Bethlehem—a gift from the institutions and families of the birthplace of Christ.
