Pope Leo XIV’s First Christmas Address Urges Compassion Over Indifference/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Christmas Day address, calling on the world to reject indifference toward global suffering. Speaking to 26,000 in St. Peter’s Square, he urged peace, dialogue, and solidarity with the oppressed. He cited crises in Gaza, Ukraine, Latin America, and refugee migrations.
Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas Message: Quick Looks
- Pope Leo XIV delivered his first “Urbi et Orbi” Christmas message in Vatican City.
- Addressed global suffering in Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, and among migrants.
- Urged people to reject indifference and stand with the vulnerable.
- Revived multilingual Christmas greetings, including English and Spanish.
- Emphasized humility, responsibility, and peace through dialogue.
- Called for reconciliation in regions facing war and instability.
- Mentioned underpaid workers, job seekers, and imprisoned individuals.
- His Mass marked the nearing end of the Holy Year celebrations.
Deep Look: Pope Leo XIV’s First Christmas Address Urges Compassion Over Indifference
VATICAN CITY — In his inaugural Christmas Day message, Pope Leo XIV issued a passionate call for empathy, solidarity, and global unity, urging the faithful to reject indifference in the face of widespread suffering. The first American pope addressed tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, highlighting humanitarian crises from Gaza to the Americas in his “Urbi et Orbi” message, Latin for “To the City and to the World.”
Delivering his message from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo spoke to an estimated 26,000 attendees. Though rain had soaked the earlier Mass held inside, the skies cleared in time for his appearance in the popemobile and his address to the crowd. As he waved to the faithful, cheers rang out, with someone shouting “Viva il papa!” — “Long live the pope!” — before he concluded with a final wave and retreated into the basilica.
In his remarks, the pope appealed for global peace through individual responsibility and compassion. “If we truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change,” Pope Leo declared.
A Global Plea for Peace
Pope Leo called for “justice, peace, and stability” in Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Syria, and extended prayers to “the tormented people of Ukraine.” He spoke solemnly of victims of war, poverty, terrorism, and natural disasters, referencing crises in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His message extended to Latin America, where he encouraged dialogue amid political turmoil, and to Asia, calling for reconciliation in Myanmar and the renewal of friendly ties between Thailand and Cambodia. He expressed sympathy for populations affected by natural disasters across South Asia and Oceania.
Pope Leo’s words were pointed and inclusive, drawing attention to the plight of the world’s most vulnerable.
“In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility,” the pope said. “He identified with each one of us: with those who have nothing left, like the people of Gaza; with those consumed by hunger and poverty, like the people of Yemen; and with refugees crossing the Mediterranean or the Americas in search of hope.”
He also acknowledged those who have lost employment, underpaid workers, incarcerated individuals, and youth searching for opportunity. His message resonated with a theme of universal humanity and shared dignity, pressing listeners to see beyond borders and political divides.
A Multilingual, Personal Touch
Pope Leo revived a cherished tradition, abandoned by his predecessor, by offering Christmas greetings in several languages. His English and Spanish greetings were met with thunderous applause, reflecting both his American heritage and his missionary past in Peru.
The pope’s fluency and warmth bridged cultural and linguistic divides, signaling a return to a more globally engaging papacy. He paused at the end to remove his glasses and wave gently, a small but symbolic gesture to those who had come to hear his first Christmas message.
Homily Highlights and Christmas Mass
Earlier in the day, Pope Leo led the traditional Christmas Mass from the central altar beneath the ornate balustrade of St. Peter’s Basilica. The church was adorned with garlands, clusters of red poinsettias, and white flowers placed at the feet of the Virgin Mary’s statue.
Thousands filled the basilica, many holding up phones to capture his procession.
In his homily, the pope emphasized that peace can only come through genuine dialogue. “There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted,” he said, “and enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other.”
He remembered the people of Gaza, enduring weeks of exposure to the cold and rain, and criticized the manipulation of young soldiers forced into war. “They feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods behind the speeches of those who send them to die,” he lamented.
A Season of Reflection
This Christmas marks the end of the Holy Year celebrations, which conclude on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany — the day commemorating the visit of the Magi to the newborn Jesus.
Pope Leo XIV’s first Christmas message was more than ceremonial. It was a solemn reminder of the Church’s role in advocating for peace, justice, and compassion in an increasingly fractured world.
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