Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire on all war fronts in his Sunday prayer ahead of Christmas celebrations, condemning the “cruelty” of bombing schools and hospitals in Ukraine and Gaza

Pope Francis called for a ceasefire in all war zones in his Sunday prayer on Christmas Eve, condemning the cruelty of bombing schools and hospitals in Ukraine and Gaza. Source: The Pope's speech was quoted by the AP news agency,

Pope Francis called for a ceasefire on all war fronts in his Angelus prayer on Sunday, condemning the "cruelty" of bombing schools and hospitals in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. "Let the weapons fall silent and let the Christmas carols ring out!

The Pope used the occasion to continue Pope John Paul II’s Advent tradition of blessing statues of the child Jesus to be placed in Nativity scenes on Christmas Day. He blessed his own and pilgrims’ statues during the address, thanking them for their “simple but important gesture”.

In late November, during a brief audience with people involved in the sport of motorcycle racing, Pope Francis asked for prayers, joking that "my work is very accelerated, and my bike has aged and doesn't work properly!

I think of Gaza with great sorrow; so much cruelty, children hit by machine guns, schools and hospitals bombed,’ pontiff says - Anadolu Ajansı

Pope Francis on Sunday lamented the ongoing war and violence affecting families in Gaza and other parts of the world in the lead-up to Christmas and called for a “ceasefire on all war fronts.”

Francis delivered his Sunday blessing from indoors with Vatican officials citing the cold weather and his upcoming busy Christmas schedule. #EuropeNews

Pope Francis has made a poignant plea for ceasefires everywhere as Christmas approaches, emphasizing the need to silence weapons and let carols fill the air. Speaking from indoors at the Vatican Sunday,

The Pope called for a worldwide ceasefire during Christmas. Pope Francis, due to a cold, prayed from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis recited the Angelus prayer from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta,

The Pope has called for a global ceasefire during Christmas. Due to a cold, Pope Francis prayed from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis recited the Angelus prayer from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta,