Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Wednesday urged “everyone of every nation” to find courage during this New Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Middle East to Ukraine, Africa to Asia.
The address of the pontiff “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world) is a summary of the woes that the world is facing this year. As Christmas coincided with the beginning of the celebration of the New Year 2025 which he dedicated to his hope, Francis asked for a broad reconciliation, “even (with) our enemies.”
“I invite every individual, and every person of every nation … to be pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions,” the pope said from the Basilica loggia of St. Peter to a crowd of people below.
The Pope attacked the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, which he opened on Christmas Eve to launch the 2025 Jubilee, as a representation of God's mercy, which “unties every knot; tearing down every wall of separation; it eliminates hatred and the spirit of revenge.”
WATCH | Pope Francis delivers Christmas message 'Urbi et Orbi':
He called for arms to remain silent in war-torn Ukraine and the Middle East, singling out Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, “especially in Gaza where the humanitarian situation is very bad,” as well as Lebanon and Syria “at. this worst time.”
Francis repeated his calls for the release of hostages from Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
He mentioned a deadly outbreak of measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the suffering of the people of Myanmar, forced to flee their homes by the “continuous military attack”. The pope also remembered children suffering from war and hunger, elderly people living in isolation, those fleeing the country, those who lost their jobs and people who are persecuted for their faith.
Jubilee was expected to draw millions to Rome
Pilgrims lined up on Christmas Day to walk through the Great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica, as the Jubilee is expected to bring some 32 million Catholic faithful to Rome.
Crossing the Holy Door is one way in which the faithful can obtain exemptions, or forgiveness for sins during the Jubilee, a tradition that was once every quarter of a century that goes back to 1300.
Pilgrims submitted to security controls before entering the Holy Door, amid fresh security fears after a deadly Christmas market attack in Germany.
Many stopped to touch the door as they passed and made the sign of the cross as they entered the basilica dedicated to Saint Peter, the founder of the Catholic Church.
“You feel so humbled when you go through the door that you are almost like a release, a release of emotions,” said Blanca Martin, a pilgrim from San Diego. how now you are able to to let go and put everything in God's hands. See I'm getting emotional. It's just a beautiful experience.”
