Overview
- From St. Peter’s loggia, he urged Russia and Ukraine to enter sincere, direct and respectful talks and prayed for the “tormented people of Ukraine.”
- In his homily, he spotlighted Gaza’s emergency, invoking residents “in tents exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold,” along with refugees, migrants and the homeless.
- He renewed a plea for a 24‑hour Christmas truce worldwide, saying he was saddened that Russia had apparently refused such a pause.
- Leo revived older Christmas liturgies with a late‑evening basilica Mass and an added Day Mass, drawing roughly 6,000 worshippers inside and 5,000 outside despite rain.
- He criticized a “distorted economy” that treats people as merchandise and voiced disappointment over Illinois’ assisted‑suicide law set to take effect in 2026.