Vatican City: In his annual Christmas address to the Roman Curia, Pope Francis strongly condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, particularly the deaths of children caused by Israeli airstrikes, calling it "cruelty" rather than war. He expressed deep sorrow over the recent bombings, which killed at least 25 Palestinians, including seven children from one family in Jabalia al-Nazl. "This is not war. This is cruelty," he said, reflecting on the tragedy. The Pope then turned to the importance of humility in building a harmonious ecclesial community, emphasizing that genuine unity and joy within the Church are rooted in humility, avoiding gossip and negative speech that poison relationships.

He focused on Saint Paul's teaching to "bless and not curse" (Romans 12:14) and encouraged members of the Curia to refrain from harmful words and instead work together to create a joyful and compassionate environment. The Pope stressed that gossip destroys social bonds, harms hearts, and leads nowhere, calling it a "trivialization" of communication.

Pope Francis also explored humility as a Christian virtue, linking it to the mystery of the Incarnation and the celebration of Christ's birth. He suggested the practice of self-accusation as a way to cultivate humility, encouraging personal reflection and transforming negative thoughts about others into positive ones. Drawing on early Christian teachings, he explained that humility involves seeing others as equals and fostering community through charity, trust, and cooperation.

The Pope pointed to the Virgin Mary as an example of humility, highlighting her willing participation in God’s plan despite having no need for self-accusation. He explained that because we have been blessed by God through the Incarnation, we are called to bless others in turn, even those who may have wronged us.

In closing, Pope Francis described the Church as a "workshop" for spreading God's blessings. He praised the humble work of staff who quietly prepare letters and convey blessings, likening this unseen labor to God's own condescension in sharing in our human condition through Jesus. He encouraged the Curia to live as "artisans of blessing," always mindful of their words and actions in service to others.