In his inaugural Christmas Day homily, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful message from St. Peter’s Basilica, drawing poignant parallels between the biblical narrative of Christ’s birth and contemporary global suffering. Addressing thousands of congregants beneath the basilica’s ornate balustrade, adorned with seasonal poinsettias and floral garlands, the pontiff specifically highlighted the plight of Gaza’s civilians enduring harsh winter conditions.
The Pope’s address transformed the traditional Christmas message into a profound commentary on modern conflicts. ‘We cannot ignore the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold,’ Leo declared, extending his concern to refugees worldwide and urban homeless populations. His homily meticulously connected the Christian story of God assuming fragile human form in a Bethlehem manger with the vulnerability of displaced persons across continents.
Leo XIV offered sharp criticism of military conflicts, referencing ‘defenseless populations tried by so many wars’ and young soldiers confronting the ‘senselessness of what is asked of them.’ He characterized military recruitment rhetoric as ‘falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.’
The pontiff presented dialogue as the singular solution to global strife, asserting that peace only emerges ‘when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other.’ The Mass attracted thousands of faithful who gathered despite steady rainfall, many documenting the historic occasion with smartphones.
This Christmas celebration concludes the Holy Year observances, scheduled to officially terminate on January 6th, the Epiphany holiday commemorating the biblical visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus.