Pope Leão XIV Uses First Christmas Platform to Press Russia–Ukraine Talks and Highlight Gaza Suffering

Overview

• He urged Russia and Ukraine to pursue sincere, direct negotiations in his Urbi et Orbi blessing, framing peace as a shared responsibility.
• He said Russia had apparently refused a requested Christmas ceasefire and renewed a plea for at least 24 hours of peace.
• He spotlighted Gaza’s humanitarian emergency, invoking families in tents exposed to rain, wind and cold as emblematic of war’s civilian toll.
• He advanced a vision of “disarmed peace,” criticized the global arms race and condemned wartime uses of artificial intelligence.
• He marked his first Christmas as pope with the Missa do Galo and public greetings, with about 26,000 attending the morning prayer in St. Peter’s Square.