Pope Francis has called for talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war sparked by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In his traditional Christmas address, the pope said “courage is needed to open the door” to dialogue “to achieve a just and lasting peace” between the two countries.
His call followed a major Russian attack the same day against Ukraine's energy facilitieswhich Ukraine said included at least 184 missiles and drones.
Earlier this year, Ukraine flatly rejected the pope's call for Kiev to negotiate an end to the war and have “the courage to raise the white flag.”
His message Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) touches on other conflicts as well.
Speaking to thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square, the 88-year-old pope said: “Let the sound of guns fall silent in war-torn Ukraine” and beyond.
“I invite every person and all people of all nations … to become pilgrims of hope, to silence the sounds of guns and to overcome divisions,” he said.
Echoing the Christmas message he delivered last year, Pope Francis also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, especially in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely dire,” he said.
He demanded that “the doors of dialogue and peace be wide open”.
The Gaza war began after the territory's rulers, Hamas, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Gunmen killed around 1,200 people and took another 251 back to Gaza as hostages. More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said.
Earlier this week, the pope twice described Israel's attacks as “atrocity,” earning sharp rebuke from Israel, which called the remarks “particularly disappointing.”
Pope Francis also said his thoughts were with the Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria, where rebels recently ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after 24 years in power. Syria's Christian population has declined since the war began in 2011. and reports suggest that it now amounts to a fraction of the pre-war total of approximately 1.5 million.
Minorities in Syria have expressed fear for their future in the country since Islamist rebels took power – although the leading rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has said all religions will be protected.