Christmas: Pope Francis Calls For Global End To Arms

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Catholic Pontiff made this appeal on Wednesday in his Christmas message to the world.

He asked that all arms to be silenced around the world, appealing for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan as he denounced the extremely grave humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria following an explosion in its engine room, Russia’s foreign ministry has confirmed.

Fourteen crew members were rescued and transported to the Spanish port of Cartagena, while two others remain unaccounted for.

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The Pope used his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” message to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics to call for talks for a just peace in Ukraine as the country was pummelled by 170 Russian missiles and drones on Christmas morning.

EKO HOT BLOG reports “Urbi et Orbi” means to the city of Rome and to the world and refers to the papal blessing that is extended to the whole world on different occasions.

The blessing is traditionally given from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, and is usually given on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

“May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine. May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace,” he said.

The Pope, before thousands of the faithful gathered in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, also appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the freeing of Israeli hostages held there by Hamas.

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“I think of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, particularly in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave. May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war,” he added.

The 88-years-old extended his call for a silencing of arms to the whole Middle East and to Sudan, which has been ravaged by a ravaged by 20 months of brutal civil war where millions are under the threat of famine.