The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, called for at least one day of peace worldwide in celebration of Christmas. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
He emphasized that refraining from wars during the holidays is an important sign of humanity and mutual respect. On the evening of December 23, at the Castel Gandolfo residence near Rome, the Pope addressed all well-intentioned people during a conversation with journalists.
He said: “I urge respect for peace for at least one day, if only on the occasion of the holiday.” He openly stated that one of his greatest concerns is Russia’s refusal to accept calls for a ceasefire.
According to him, the silence of weapons on sacred days like Christmas can alleviate the pain and suffering in the world. It is known that since Russia launched military operations against Ukraine in February 2022, it has rejected several proposals for a ceasefire.
At the same time, peace talks held in Florida, USA, have so far yielded no significant results. The Ukrainian side announced its withdrawal from the city of Sievierodonetsk in Donetsk region after heavy fighting.
In his speech, the Pope expressed his optimism, saying: “I still hope they will listen and that there will be at least 24 hours of peace worldwide.” He also recalled receiving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Italy in December.
The Pope responded cautiously to Zelensky’s invitation to visit Ukraine, adding that he cannot provide specific information about when such a trip might take place. This appeal by the Pope has revived discussions about peace among the global community on the eve of Christmas.
