Pope Francis has called for “silencing the guns” around the world, calling for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan in his Christmas address, while condemning the “extremely dangerous” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He used his traditional message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on Wednesday to call for talks for a just peace in Ukraine after the country was bombed by 170 Russian missiles and drones on Christmas morning and Kiev called it “inhumane.”
In a breathless voice, the 88-year-old pope also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas there.
In Saydnaya, Syria, a large crowd gathered near a historic monastery on Christmas Eve to watch the lighting of a towering tree decorated with glowing green lights.
The celebration was a rare moment of joy in a city torn apart by more than a decade of war and its notorious prison, where tens of thousands of people were detained and tortured. Families and friends stood by the illuminated tree – some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops – while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky.
Meanwhile, a snowstorm in the Balkans stranded drivers and downed power lines on Tuesday, but some saw the beauty in it.
“I’m actually happy it fell,” said driver Mirsad Jasarevic in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We haven’t had snow for Christmas in 17 years here, and now is the time for a great white Christmas.”
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