Christmas: Pope Francis offers prayers for Ukraine
December 25, 2022
The head of the Catholic Church addressed the war in Ukraine as part of his traditional address. After two years of COVID restrictions, thousands gathered in St Peter's Square.
Pope Francis waves as he delivers his traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi messageImage: Yara Nardi/REUTERS
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Thousands of people convened in St. Peter's Square in Rome on Sunday to hear Pope Francis deliver his Christmas Day speech.
The 86-year-old addressed the war in Ukraine while offering prayers for the war-torn country from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
"May the Lord inspire us to offer concrete gestures of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering, and may he enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the thunder of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war!" he said.
The pope condemned the use of "food as a weapon" in war. "We know that every war causes hunger and exploits food as a weapon... [let us], starting with those who hold political responsibilities, commit ourselves to making food solely an instrument of peace," he said.
Christmas 2022: A look at celebrations around the world
From church services in Ukraine's capital, to processions in Bethlehem, to surfers dressed as Santa Claus, people around the world are marking Christmas.
Image: Danylo Antoniuk/AA/picture alliance
Ukraine marks Christmas amid war
In the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, residents gathered for services after the Orthodox Church of Ukraine allowed adherents to also celebrate Christmas this year on December 25 as well as January 7. Russia's ongoing invasion of the country and the plight of the Ukrainian people have been at the forefront of church and political leaders' holiday speeches.
Image: Danylo Antoniuk/AA/picture alliance
Pope Francis decries wars in Christmas Eve mass
At St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday evening, Pope Francis presided over a Christmas Eve mass attended by some 7,000 people. Francis sharply criticized war and those who are power-hungry. "How many wars have we seen! And in how many places, even today, are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt," the head of the Roman Catholic Church said.
Image: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
Pope emphasizes plight of children
Children were among the thousands who attended services at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Saturday. Pope Francis particularly appealed for worshippers to consider the dangers facing children around the world. "I think above all of the children devoured by war, poverty and injustice," he said.
Image: Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images
Bethlehem celebrates Christmas and return of tourists
Palestinian scouts march during a Christmas parade towards the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The biblical town, located in the occupied West Bank, is marking a more upbeat Christmas after the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic dealt a major blow to Bethlehem's tourism branch.
Image: Majdi Mohammed/AP Photo/picture alliance
Ceremonies kick off in the Holy Land
The traditional Christmas procession in Bethlehem was led by the head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. Tens of thousands of people are expected in the area for the holiday. "We are celebrating Christmas this year in a very much different way than last year,'' Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maayah said.
Image: Hazem Bader/AFP
Festive flares in Italy
In the Italian town of Imperia, near Genoa, a lone man dressed as St. Nick waved sparkling flares while standing on a boat.
Image: Antonio Calanni/AP Photo/picture alliance
Surfing Santas not swayed by frigid US temperatures
In the southern US state of Florida, participants in a charity surfing event were undeterred by unusually cold conditions. The United States is currently facing a deadly winter storm that is almost unprecedented in its size and severity.
Image: Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via AP/picture alliance
Swapping snow for sand in Scotland
Runners dressed up in their holiday best to take part in the Santa Beach run in North Berwick, Scotland, on Christmas Eve. Runners sported red and green ensembles, or clad themselves in St. Nick attire for the beach run.
One pastor in northern Germany has kept up a pandemic-era tradition of holding Christmas Eve services on wheels. Lutheran pastor Robert Vetter held brief, outdoor services in the town of Stuhr near Bremen. The pastor stopped at four different sites in the town, preaching from a mobile hut pulled by a big, green tractor.
Visitors pose for pictures in front of a massive Christmas tree at a hotel in Beijing. China is battling a wave of COVID-19 infections this year, grappling with a health crisis that is packing hospital intensive care units. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
Image: Andy Wong/AP Photo/picture alliance
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Pope Francis said the war in Ukraine should not diminish concern for people affected by conflicts or humanitarian crises elsewhere, including Syria, Myanmar, Iran, Haiti and the Sahel region of Africa. He also called for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
"Our time is experiencing a grave famine of peace..." he said.
Criticism over diplomatic stance
Pope Francis has called consistently for peace in the wake of Russia's invasion of its neighbor, but has trod carefully in order to maintain a delicate dialogue with Moscow.
Francis has been criticized in some quarters for not being more explicit in blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for the conflict.
In June, the pope said the war was "perhaps somehow either provoked or not prevented."
In 2020, Francis delivered his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing ("to the city and the world") virtually from a lectern inside the Vatican due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2021, a restricted gathering was in place but this year thousands of believers are expected to gather in the Italian capital, to hear the annual message, which began at noon local time (1100 GMT).
