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

By Thaddeus Jones

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

The launch of the Jubilee Year 2025 marked the theme of this year’s Christmas message and context when the Pope opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the start of yesterday’s Christmas mass during the night.

God’s heart is always open to us

The Pope began his Christmas message explains 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 – “made new thanks to the Holy Spirit” and which continues to speak to every man and woman today who says, “I love you, I forgive you; come back to me, the door of my heart is open!”

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

The holy door of salvation is open to all

Recalling the holy door he opened in St Peter’s Basilica last night, inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee, the Pope explained 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 how crossing the threshold of that door requires courage because we have to sacrifice our old ways and thinking, put strife and division behind us and surrender to God’s love.

May guns be silenced

Regarding the challenges facing our world, the Pope asked for the sound of weapons to be silenced in war-torn Ukraine 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 recalled the manger in Bethlehem and Christian communities in Israel and Palestine. He prayed especially for Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is dire, saying “may there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released, and help be given to the people who are worn out by hunger and by war.”

Pope Francis also expressed his closeness to the Christian communities in Lebanon and in Syria amid the transition. He called for “the doors of dialogue and peace to be flung open throughout the conflict-torn region.” He also encouraged the people of Libya as they work for national reconciliation.

Humanitarian aid to the suffering

The Pope asked that the birth of the Savior we celebrate today may give hope to the many thousands of children suffering from a measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Mozambique. He pointed out how this humanitarian crisis is primarily human-caused – armed conflict, the scourge of terrorism – and exacerbated by climate change, which is forcing millions to flee and putting many at risk.

The Pope remembered the peoples of the Horn of Africa and asked for the “gifts of peace, unity and fraternity” for them, as well as the civilian population of Sudan, so that desperately 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.

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

The Pope remembered the people of the island of Cyprus, now fifty years a divided island, and asked that the walls of separation may fall and that a mutually agreed solution can be found in full respect for the rights and dignity of all communities.

Jesus is waiting for us

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

Gratitude for all

The Pope praised those who give of themselves in service, do good and help others, remembering parents, educators and teachers “who have the great responsibility of forming future generations.” He thanked health workers, service men and women, charities and especially missionaries around the world as “they bring light and comfort to so many people in need.”

Forgive our debts

In conclusion, the Pope asked that this jubilee provide an opportunity to forgive debts, especially in the poorest countries. We are all called to forgive others, since “the Son of God, born in the cold and darkness of the night, has forgiven our own,” the Pope recalled, and as the Lord “heals us and forgives us.”