Overview
- He presided over Christmas Eve Misa de Gallo and a reinstated Christmas Day Mass at St. Peter’s, the first papal celebration of the day Mass in decades since John Paul II.
- In his homily he warned that a distorted economy treats people as merchandise and evoked the cold tents in Gaza, displaced families worldwide, and the homeless in cities.
- From the central balcony he delivered the Urbi et Orbi, asking for justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria, and urging sincere, direct dialogue to end the war in Ukraine.
- He extended appeals to other crises, citing conflicts in parts of Africa, the plight of Haiti and Myanmar, and encouraged Latin American leaders to give space to dialogue for the common good.
- The Vatican reported about 6,000 inside St. Peter’s and roughly 5,000 in the square despite rain, and he greeted the gathering in multiple languages before the blessing.