Vatican City: In his Christmas message on Wednesday, Pope Francis called for dialogue between Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war that began with Moscow's full-scale invasion two years ago, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties. During his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the pope directly addressed the conflict, urging "the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation."

Pope Francis passionately declared, "May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine!" and emphasized the need for "gestures of dialogue and encounter to achieve a just and lasting peace." This message comes amid a backdrop of ongoing tension, as earlier this year, Ukrainian officials criticized the pope's suggestion that Ukraine should embrace the "white flag" to initiate talks with Russia. While President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had initially ruled out peace talks without the restoration of Ukraine's pre-war borders, he has recently shown increasing openness to diplomatic solutions.

In his address, the 88-year-old pontiff also called for an end to conflicts worldwide, including in Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He renewed his call for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas war, which he had previously described as "cruelty," and called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza "extremely grave." Francis urged the opening of "the doors of dialogue and peace."

The pope's message coincided with the start of the Holy Year for the global Catholic Church, running until January 6, 2026. Francis called for the Jubilee year to be a time of peace, forgiveness, and healing, encouraging individuals and nations to become "pilgrims of hope" and work toward overcoming divisions. He also highlighted the need for a "mutually agreed solution" to bring down the border wall dividing Cyprus since 1974.