Pope Leo XIV's First Christmas Sermon Makes Unusually Direct Appeal for Palestinians in Gaza

It was a message of peace with a sharp political edge. In his first Christmas sermon as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV made an unusually direct appeal decrying the conditions for Palestinians in Gaza. The remarks marked a departure from the typically solemn, spiritual service, signaling a more assertive tone from the Vatican on a major humanitarian crisis.

A Rebuke from St. Peter's Basilica

Speaking to thousands in St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, December 25, the first American pope said the story of Jesus's birth showed that God had “pitched his fragile tent” among the world's people. He then posed a direct question to the congregation.

According to Reuters, Pope Leo, elected in May, has cultivated a quieter, more diplomatic style than his predecessor, Pope Francis. However, he has recently lamented the conditions in Gaza several times. Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October after two years of intense conflict, but humanitarian agencies report that aid to the strip remains critically insufficient.

A Global Plea for Peace

The Pope's appeal extended far beyond the Middle East. In his later “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message, he called for an end to all global wars, specifically lamenting conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Mali, and Myanmar. “Fragile is the flesh of defenceless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” the pope said.

Hope Resonates in Bethlehem

Ahead of the Pope’s mass, festivities returned to Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank for the first time in more than two years. After a period of sombre Christmases shadowed by war, parades and music filled the city. Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who recently visited Gaza, delivered a message of resilience. “The wounds are deep, yet I have to say, here too, there too, their proclamation of Christmas resounds,” he said.