Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace in Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine in His First Christmas Message

Pope Leo XIV's invocation for peace in conflict-ridden regions such as Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, and Syria is not an isolated call in the history of the Vatican, but follows a long tradition of the Holy See to mediate and urge for the resolution of conflicts worldwide. Since the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the beginning of the Arab-Israeli conflict, popes have made similar calls, seeking conciliation between the parties. In the case of Ukraine, the war that began in 2014 with Russia's annexation of Crimea, which has since intensified, has been a matter of international concern, including the Holy See, which has offered its mediation on several occasions. The 'Urbi et Orbi' message (to the city and the world) is a papal blessing...