Pope Francis, in his traditional Christmas message, urged “all people of all nations” to find the courage to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions during this Holy Year. His “Urbi et Orbi” address, delivered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to a large crowd, served as a summary of the world’s woes. Coinciding with the start of the 2025 Holy Year dedicated to hope, Francis called for broad reconciliation, even with enemies. He invited everyone to become pilgrims of hope, working to silence the violence and bridge divides.
The Pope invoked the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, opened on Christmas Eve to launch the Jubilee, as a symbol of God’s mercy. He specifically called for an end to the fighting in war-torn Ukraine and the Middle East, expressing particular concern for Christian communities in Israel and the Palestinian territories, especially Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. He reiterated his calls for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in October 2023. His message also acknowledged the suffering caused by the measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, and the plight of children facing war and hunger, the elderly living in solitude, displaced peoples, the unemployed, and those persecuted for their faith.
Pilgrims flocked to St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Day to walk through the Holy Door, a key part of the Jubilee celebrations expected to draw some 32 million Catholic faithful to Rome. Passing through the Holy Door allows the faithful to obtain indulgences, a tradition dating back to 1300. Enhanced security measures were in place following a recent attack in Germany. One pilgrim, Blanca Martin from San Diego, described the experience as deeply emotional and freeing, a moment of letting go and placing everything in God’s hands.
This year’s Christmas coincided with the start of Hanukkah, a confluence that has only occurred four times since 1900. This rare alignment prompted some religious leaders to organize interfaith gatherings, such as a Hanukkah party in Houston that brought together Latino and Jewish communities. While Hanukkah is typically a celebratory holiday, rabbis acknowledged the somber context of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and rising antisemitism. The infrequent overlap is due to the Jewish calendar’s lunar basis, which is not synchronized with the Gregorian calendar.