Pope at Christmas Urbi et Orbi: May we become pilgrims of hope, peace and unity

By Thaddeus Jones

At noon on Christmas morning, Pope Francis delivered his customary Christmas greetings and messages from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the crowd in the square and live to people watching via media around the world. Finally, he gave his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing to the city and the world, as he does on Easter Sunday.

The beginning of the 2025 anniversary year marked the theme and context of this year’s Christmas message, as the Pope opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of yesterday’s Christmas night mass.

God’s heart is always open to us

The Pope began his Christmas message by explaining that the joy we celebrate today comes from an event that took place two thousand years ago – the birth of the Lord Jesus, the eternal Word of salvation – which was “made new thanks to the Holy Spirit ” became and continues today to speak to every man and woman and say: “I love you, I forgive you; Come back to me, the door of my heart is open!”

He emphasized that “the door of God’s heart is always open” and called on us to return to the heart “that loves us and forgives us” and allows us to be reconciled with him.

Holy door of salvation, open to all

The Pope recalled the Holy Door that he opened in St. Peter’s Basilica last night to mark the opening of the 2025 Jubilee, explaining that this door represents “Jesus, the door of salvation open to all” and the Good Shepherd who awaits us with open arms .

Courage to cross the threshold

The Pope recognized that crossing the threshold of this door requires courage, because we must abandon our old habits and ways of thinking, leave behind disputes and divisions and surrender to the love of God.

May guns be silenced

Reflecting on the challenges facing our world, the Pope prayed that the noise of weapons in war-torn Ukraine would be silenced and called for strength and openness to negotiations and dialogue for a just and lasting peace.

He prayed for an end to the war in the Middle East and remembered the Bethlehem manger and the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine. He prayed particularly for Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is dire, saying: “May there be a ceasefire, the hostages be released and aid given to the people exhausted by hunger and war.”

Pope Francis also expressed his closeness to the Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria amid the transition. He prayed that “the doors of dialogue and peace will be opened throughout the conflict-ravaged region.” He also encouraged the people of Libya to work for national reconciliation.

Humanitarian aid for those in need

The Pope prayed that the birth of the Savior, which we celebrate today, would inspire hope for the many thousands of children suffering from a measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Mozambique. He noted that this humanitarian crisis is primarily due to human causes – armed conflicts, the scourge of terrorism – and is exacerbated by climate change, which is leading to the displacement of millions of people and putting many at risk of their lives.

The pope remembered the peoples of the Horn of Africa and prayed for “the gifts of peace, unity and brotherhood” for them, as well as for the civilian population of Sudan, so that urgently needed humanitarian aid can reach them and new ceasefire negotiations can take place.

Prayers for dialogue and social harmony

May Christmas bring comfort to the people of Myanmar, the pope prayed, where the ongoing conflict has caused great suffering and displaced so many people.

Remembering America, the Pope encouraged political authorities and people of good will to work together to overcome divisions with justice and truth and to promote the social harmony and common good that people strive for. He mentioned Haiti, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua.

The Pope remembered the people of the island of Cyprus, which has now been a divided island for 50 years, and prayed that the walls of separation may come down and that an amicable solution can be found with full respect for the rights and dignity of all communities.

Jesus is waiting for us

The Pope emphasized that Jesus awaits us at the threshold, “especially the most vulnerable,” such as children who suffer from war and hunger, and the elderly who are often forced to live abandoned and in solitude. He described how the Lord waits for those who have lost their homes, fled for safety, lost their jobs and cannot find one, those in prison, and those facing persecution for their faith have to endure.

Gratitude for everyone

The Pope praised those who engage in service, do good and help others, and recalled parents, educators and teachers “who bear the great responsibility of forming future generations.” He thanked health care workers, military personnel, charities and especially missionaries around the world for “bringing light and comfort to so many people in difficulty.”

Forgive us our debts

Finally, the Pope prayed that this anniversary would provide an opportunity for debt relief, especially for the poorest countries. We are all called to forgive others, just as “the Son of God, who was born in the cold and darkness of the night, forgave us himself,” the Pope recalled, and as the Lord “heals and forgives us.”