Pope calls for global Christmas truce over rising conflicts

This photo taken and handout on May 9, 2025 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV during a mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel in The Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP)

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Pope Leo XIV has renewed his plea for global peace during the Christmas season, urging calm amid ongoing conflicts around the world.

According to a statement from the Vatican, on Tuesday, the Bishop of Rome expressed his hope for a “full day of peace throughout the world” on the feast of Christ’s birth.

Referring to recent Russian strikes in Ukraine, he said, “Truly, among the things that cause me great sadness in these days is the fact that Russia has apparently refused the request for a Christmas truce.

“Perhaps they will listen to us, and there will be 24 hours – one full day of peace throughout the world.”

The Pope also addressed ongoing tensions in the Middle East, noting recent efforts to advance a ceasefire.

He highlighted the recent visit of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to Gaza, where locals continue to celebrate Christmas under precarious conditions.

“Let us hope that the peace agreement will move forward,” the Pope said.

Speaking on developments in the United States, Pope Leo expressed disappointment over the recent approval in Illinois of a law permitting assisted suicide for terminally ill adults starting September 2026.

He noted that he had already discussed the matter with Governor JB Pritzker during a Vatican audience in November, urging the protection of life from beginning to end.

“We were very clear about the need to respect the sacredness of life. Unfortunately, he decided to sign that bill. I am very disappointed,” the Pope said.

He called on all, particularly during the Christmas season, “to reflect on the value of human life. God became human like us to show us what it truly means to live a human life.”

Pope Leo prayed that “respect for life may grow once again at every moment of human existence, from conception to natural death,” stressing that the celebration of Christ’s birth should inspire compassion, reflection, and peace across the globe.

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