At his first Christmas mass in Rome, Pope Leo XIV called for humanity and peace.
December 25, 2025, 07:32December 25, 2025, 07:32
«Not accepting one means not accepting the other. Where there is room for people, there is also room for God,” said the pontiff in the packed St. Peter’s Basilica, referring to the words of the church leader Benedict XVI, who died two years ago.
Pope Leo during the sermon.Image: keystone
Christmas is a festival of hope that “makes us messengers of peace,” said the Pope. He also recalled that human dignity is infinite, even if a misguided economy tempts people to treat them like commodities.
In pouring rain, thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square watched the mass broadcast outside on screens. The Pope greeted them before the start, wished them a Merry Christmas and thanked them for coming despite the bad weather. Although St. Peter’s Basilica is large, it doesn’t offer enough space for everyone. Before he briefly withdrew before mass, he blessed the believers who were waiting under umbrellas.
In his sermon, Leo The Holy Year ends on January 6th.
Call for a one-day ceasefire
The Pope – the first American to sit on the Chair of Peter – also called for a one-day ceasefire for all conflicts worldwide at Christmas and urged peace. He specifically referred to the war in Ukraine. One of the things that made him sad was that Russia rejected a Christmas truce. Regarding the situation in the Middle East, he said it was hoped that the peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians would make progress.
Meanwhile, in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, Christians celebrated Christmas for the first time since the end of the Gaza War. After two years, a large Christmas tree was put up in front of the Church of the Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Pope donates Christmas blessing “Urbi et Orbi”
On Christmas Day, Pope Leo Tens of thousands of believers are expected. (sda/dpa)