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In his message Urbi et Orbi for Christmas, Pope Leo XIV urged humanity to take on its personal and collective responsibility in building peace.
He affirmed that the birth of Jesus Christ represents true peace, capable of overcoming sin, hatred, and violence through the merciful love of God, citing the local media Vatican News.
During his speech from St. Peter's Square, the Pontiff recalled that Jesus was born in poverty, in a stable and laid in a manger, because "there was no room for Him at the inn."
He emphasized that this fact demonstrates that the Son of God chose humility and closeness to the most vulnerable, identifying with the poor, the excluded, and those who suffer.
Leo XIV insisted that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but a path that requires recognizing one's own mistakes, asking for forgiveness, and committing to love and solidarity.
"God, who has created us without us, cannot save us without us," the Pope recalled, emphasizing that peace begins in the heart of each individual.
The Christmas message also had a strong international focus.
The Supreme Pontiff mentioned the communities affected by war, violence, and natural disasters, including the Middle East, Ukraine, Latin America, Myanmar, Sudan, and Haiti, and urged political leaders to work towards dialogue, reconciliation, and justice.
He also expressed his closeness to migrants, refugees, unemployed youth, prisoners, and exploited individuals, stating that opening one's heart to them is to open it to Christ Himself. "The birth of the Lord is the birth of peace," he reiterated.
León XIV concluded his message by stating that Christmas goes beyond external celebrations and gifts, and entails a concrete commitment to justice, fraternity, and human dignity.
The Urbi et Orbi message concluded with the traditional papal blessing, in a global context marked by conflicts, humanitarian crises, and deep inequalities, to which the Pontiff urged a response of peace, responsibility, and mercy.
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