Overview
- He appealed from Castel Gandolfo for “a day of peace” and noted that Russia appears to have rejected the request.
- Ukrainian outlets reported more than 650 drones and dozens of missiles hitting at least 13 regions overnight on Dec. 23–24, with deaths, injuries and widespread power damage.
- The Vatican said he celebrated his first Christmas Mass since his April election and will deliver the Urbi et Orbi at 12:00 (11:00 GMT) as the Jubilee year closes.
- A fragile ceasefire in Gaza allowed festive Christmas celebrations to return to Bethlehem for the first time since the Gaza war began.
- Coverage frames the appeal in a long tradition of brief Christmas truces, highlighting its symbolic weight rather than enforceable effect.