Of
Gian Guido Vecchi
The Pontiff quotes the verses of Yehuda Amichai, an Israeli poet who supported peace with the Palestinians to the end: «Peace comes like wild flowers, suddenly, because the field needs it: wild peace»
VATICAN CITY Il Urbi et Orbi Christmas message of the Pope invokes peace in the divided world as every year, but Leo XIV has the finesse to do so with the verses of Yehuda Amichai, perhaps the greatest of Israeli poetsa supporter of peace with the Palestinians to the end: «Not the peace of a ceasefire, / not even the vision of the wolf and the lamb, / but rather / as in the heart when the excitement is over / and one can only speak of great tiredness. /(…) May it come / like wild flowers, / suddenly, because the field / needs it: wild peace».
On his first Christmas as pontiff, Prevost looks out at midday from the Loggia of Blessings for the traditional message that looks back every year on the sorrows of the world, from the Middle East to the “tortured Ukrainian people” to the whole of Europe, so that it remains “welcoming” and “faithful to its Christian roots and its history”. In becoming man, he says, «Jesus takes upon himself our fragility, he identifies with each of us: with those who no longer have anything and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are in the grip of hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, such as the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or travel across the American continent; with who has lost their job and with those who look for it, like many young people who struggle to find a job; with those who are exploited, such as too many underpaid workers; con who is in prison and often lives in inhuman conditions.”
With Saint Augustine, “God, who created us without us, cannot save us without us”, the Augustinian Pope addresses everyone by indicating the “responsibility” of each one as the only way out: “He who does not love is not saved, he is lost, and he who does not love the brother he sees cannot love God he does not see. Sisters and brothers, here is the path to peace: responsibility. If each of us – at all levels – instead of accusing others, first of all recognized our own shortcomings and asked God for forgiveness, and at the same time put ourselves in the shoes of those who suffer, showed solidarity with those who are weaker and more oppressed, then the world would change.”
We can and must all do our part reject hatred, violence, opposition and practice dialoguepeace, reconciliation.”
All theatres, from the Middle East to Palestine
The list of pains, like every year, is very long. «On this day of celebration, I would like to send a warm and fatherly greeting to all Christians, especially those who live in the Middle Eastwhom I intended to meet recently with my first apostolic trip”, begins Prevost: “I have listened to their fears and I know well their feeling of impotence in the face of power dynamics that surpass them. The Child who is born in Bethlehem today is the same Jesus who says: “Have peace in me. In the world you have tribulations, but have courage: I have overcome the world!”. From Him we invoke justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Syriatrusting in these divine words: “Practicing justice will give peace. Honoring justice will give tranquility and security forever””, he adds with the words of Isaiah. And again, «to the Prince of Peace we entrust the entire European continentasking him to continue to inspire a community and collaborative spirit, faithful to its Christian roots and its history, supportive and welcoming with those in need.”
Leo find the courage to dialogue in a sincere, direct and respectful way». The Pope implores «peace and consolation for the victims of all the wars taking place in the world, especially the forgotten ones; and for those who suffer from injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism.” Among these, «I remember in particular the brothers and sisters of Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo», he adds: «In these last days of the Jubilee of Hope, let us pray to the God made man for the dear population of Haitiso that all forms of violence in the country may cease and progress on the path of peace and reconciliation.”
The pontiff also addresses “how many in America Latina have political responsibilities” so that “in facing the numerous challenges, space is given to dialogue for the common good and not to ideological and partisan preclusions”. And pray that «the Prince of Peace illuminates the Myanmar with the light of a future of reconciliation: restore hope to the young generations, guide the entire Burmese people on paths of peace and accompany those who live without a home, security or trust in the future”. Again, «we ask Him to restore the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia and that the parties involved continue to work towards reconciliation and peace.” Leone also thinks «of the populations of South Asia and Oceaniaseverely tested by the recent and devastating natural disasters, which have hit entire populations hard” and says: “In the face of such trials, I invite everyone to renew with conviction our common commitment to helping those who suffer”. It applies to everyone, after all: “On this holy day, let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters who are in need and in pain.”
After the Urbi et Orbi message, the Pope sent his best wishes – «Merry Christmas! May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts and in your families” – in a dozen languages, including Arabic and Chineseas well as Italian, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish and finally Latin.
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December 25, 2025 (changed December 25, 2025 | 12:19)
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