In his first Christmas Eve Mass, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to look downward—not upward—for salvation, calling humility, care for the poor, and love for children the path to true peace, while delivering a stirring “Urbi et Orbi” blessing that pleaded for justice, reconciliation, and an end to global conflicts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, in his first Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, declared that real salvation is not found in gazing at the stars but in embracing humility, the poor, the excluded, and the innocence of children.
“For millennia, peoples have looked to the heavens, naming stars and seeking answers in the cosmos,” the pope said. “Yet they remained lost, confounded by their own Oracles. But tonight, those who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Behold the star that astonishes the world—a spark newly lit, blazing with life.”
Quoting Isaiah, he proclaimed: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Into time and space comes the One without whom we would not exist.”
Christmas as a Call to Love and Action
Pope Leo framed Christmas not as a “clever fix” to the world’s ills but as a “love story” demanding a response: gratitude for God’s gift and a mission to carry faith, charity, hope, and peace into a broken world.
“Announce the joy of Christmas—a feast of faith, charity, and hope!” he told the congregation. “Faith, because God becomes man, born of the Virgin. Charity, because the gift of the Son is realized in self-giving love. Hope, because the Child Jesus kindles it within us, making us messengers of peace, unafraid of the night, moving toward the dawn.”
“Urbi et Orbi”: A Plea for Global Peace
In his Christmas Day “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message, the pope called for peace in war-torn regions, justice for the oppressed, and solidarity with the suffering.
The Middle East: “True Peace Is Possible”
“The Child born in Bethlehem is the same Jesus who says: ‘In me you may have peace,’” he said, addressing Christians in the Middle East, whom he recently visited. He prayed for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria, quoting Isaiah 32:17: “‘The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.’”
Ukraine: “Silence the Clamor of Weapons“
The pope urged Ukraine’s warring parties to lay down arms and pursue sincere dialogue, calling on the international community to help forge a just and lasting peace.
Africa and Latin America: “End Violence, Restore Hope“
He highlighted Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict and persecution persist, and asked for reconciliation in Latin America, where political divisions often overshadow the common good.
Asia: “Light for Myanmar and Thailand-Cambodia Reconciliation“
Pope Leo prayed for Myanmar’s young generations, that they may find hope and stability, and for restored friendship between Thailand and Cambodia.
Natural Disasters: “Stand with the Suffering“
He remembered victims of devastating disasters in South Asia and Oceania, urging global solidarity with those who have lost homes, security, and hope.
A Challenge to the World: “Responsibility Is the Path to Peace“
The pope warned that peace begins with personal responsibility—acknowledging faults, seeking forgiveness, and standing with the weak.
“If we stop accusing others and instead take responsibility for our own actions, if we enter into the suffering of others, then the world will change,” he said.
He condemned indifference to human suffering, noting that Jesus identifies with the marginalized: — The homeless and war-torn in Gaza — The starving in Yemen — Refugees risking their lives at sea and on land — The unemployed and exploited — Prisoners in inhumane conditions
A Message of Hope: “Christ Remains the Open Door“
As the Jubilee Year of Hope nears its end, Pope Leo reminded the faithful that Christ is the “Door always open,” offering divine life, healing, and rest.
“The Lord’s birth is the birth of peace,” he declared. “He comes not to condemn but to save. In Him, every wound is healed, every heart finds rest.”
Concluding, he offered a heartfelt Christmas wish: “To all of you, I offer good wishes for a peaceful and holy Christmas!”
The pope’s message—rooted in humility, love, and urgent action—resonates as a call to transform words into deeds, ensuring that the light of Bethlehem shines in every corner of a wounded world.
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