2023-12-24 21:00:39
Pope Francis reads the traditional Christmas message in the Vatican on Christmas Day (Monday/12 p.m.). From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the head of the approximately 1.3 billion Catholics gives the Urbi et Orbi blessing, i.e. to the city and the world. It is expected that Francis will condemn the wars in the world. This year the festival is particularly influenced by the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Tens of thousands of believers are expected at St. Peter’s Square.
In his Christmas message last year, Francis unsuccessfully called for an end to the “senseless war” in Ukraine. This year, in addition to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Christmas will also be overshadowed by the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Christmas will be celebrated very quietly in the Holy Land this year because of the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. In Bethlehem in the West Bank – according to tradition, the birthplace of Jesus Christ – there are hardly any tourists, unlike usual. There were no Christmas trees. Access to the city is extremely restricted by Israeli army roadblocks. There are also practically no Christmas decorations in Jerusalem. In Israel and the Palestinian territories, Christians are a very small minority.
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