INDOPOSCO.ID – During the Christmas celebration on Thursday (Dec. 25, 2025), Pope Leo XIV once again turned his Urbi et Orbi message into a global moral pulpit. As armed conflicts continue to tear at humanity across the world, the Pope urged humankind to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of the Prince of Peace, which demands the courage to act—not merely to hope.
In a firm yet compassionate tone, the Pope named regions still trapped in cycles of violence. His prayers and hopes flowed for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria—lands long yearning for stability.
He also drew particular attention to the suffering of Ukraine, calling for an end to the roar of weapons and urging all parties, with the support of the international community, to find the courage to enter into “sincere, direct, and respectful dialogue.”
The Pope refused to let lesser-covered conflicts fade into silence. He expressed his closeness to victims of war and violence in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
To those suffering from injustice, political instability, religious persecution, and terrorism, he affirmed that the Church does not turn away.
Prayers were also offered for Haiti, that violence might cease and the path to reconciliation be opened. For Myanmar, the Pope asked that the nation be guided toward peace and hope, especially for its younger generation.
In Latin America, he urged political leaders to choose dialogue for the common good rather than fall into the abyss of ideological and partisan polarization.
Turning to Asia, the Pope prayed for the restoration of long-standing friendship between Thailand and Cambodia. He also entrusted to God the nations of South Asia and Oceania recently struck by natural disasters, while calling for renewed commitment to stand with those most affected.
Amid the long list of the world’s wounds, the Pope led the faithful back to the heart of Christmas. Quoting Saint Leo the Great, he affirmed that the birth of the Lord is the birth of peace—a peace that “comes down from heaven” and is offered to humanity. Yet he quickly cautioned that this gift requires active human participation.
Citing Saint Augustine, he said, “God, who created us without us, will not save us without us,” adding that “responsibility is the sure path to peace.”
Christ, the Pope continued, is true peace because He frees humanity from sin and “shows us the way to overcome conflict—every conflict, whether interpersonal or international.” Without forgiven hearts, the Pope warned, it is impossible to become “men and women of peace or builders of peace.”
By becoming human, Jesus embraced human fragility. For this reason, the Pope underscored Christ’s closeness to those who suffer today: the people of Gaza, the people of Yemen, refugees and migrants, the unemployed, exploited workers, and prisoners who often live in inhumane conditions.
From this reality, he issued a stark warning against the danger of indifference, reminding the world that “God is not indifferent to our suffering.”
As the Jubilee Year draws to a close and the Holy Doors are shut, Pope Leo XIV ended his message on a note of hope.
“Christ, our hope, is always with us,” he said, reminding the faithful that He is “the door that is always open, who comes not to condemn, but to save,” Pope Leo XIV said, as quoted by Vatican News on Friday (Dec. 26, 2025).
In a world weary of war and division, this Christmas message left one clear echo: peace is born of hearts willing to repent, to take responsibility, and to courageously open the door to others. (her)
