Pope renews call for peace in Middle East during Christmas speech

Pope Francis delivers his Christmas Urbi Et Orbi Blessing and his traditional Christmas Day message from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, on December 25, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Pope Francis renewed his calls for peace in the Middle East amid the war in Gaza during his Christmas message, lamenting the suffering of innocents.

The pope warned his followers against the “quest for worldly power” and urged people to turn their attention to victims of war, particularly the suffering of children in the region, calling them the “little Jesuses of today” to a crowd of roughly 6,500 in St. Peter’s Square.

“May there be an end to the fueling of violence and hatred, and may the Palestinian question come to be resolved through sincere and persevering dialogue between the parties, sustained by strong political will and support of the international community,” he said. “Brothers and sisters, let us pray for peace in Palestine and Israel.”

During the Christmas Eve mass, the pope said, "Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.

"The pope has repeatedly called for a ceasefire to the conflict and the release of all hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas and Islamic Jihad.