‘Tonight our hearts are in Bethlehem,’ Pope Francis says in Christmas mass

Francis did not mention Israel or Gaza by name, but he made numerous references to violence and war during the mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome
On Christmas Day, the pope is expected to lead the traditional ‘Urbi and Orbi’ prayer, during which he usually mentions the conflicts around the world

Pope Francis

Agence France-Presse

Published: 4:21am, 25 Dec 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for peace as he kicked off Christmas celebrations with a mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica as the Israel-Gaza war raged on.

“Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world,” the pope said to some 6,500 faithful who attended the traditional service.

Francis’s address did not mention Israel or Gaza by name, but he made numerous references to violence and war.

Protesters display a banner as Pope Francis (not pictured) leads the Angelus prayer from his window in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Rome on Sunday. Photo: Vatican Media / Handout via Reuters

Arguing that justice would not come “from a show of force,” the pontiff said Jesus “does not eliminate injustice from above by a show of force, but from below, by a show of love.”

“He does not burst on the scene with limitless power,” he said, speaking in Italian with an official translation provided in seven languages.

During his weekly Angelus prayer earlier on Sunday, the pope said: “We are close to our brothers and sisters who are suffering from war – we are thinking of Palestine, of Israel, of Ukraine”.

On Christmas Day, the pontiff is expected to lead the traditional “Urbi and Orbi” prayer, during which he normally mentions the conflicts around the world.

Pope Francis approves blessings for same-sex couples in certain conditions

The pope has frequently denounced attacks on civilians in the continuing conflict.

With the Gaza war raging, the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, were effectively cancelled on Sunday.

This year the city is almost deserted, with few worshippers around and no Christmas tree erected, after church leaders decided to forego “any unnecessarily festive” celebrations in solidarity with Gazans.