Pope Leo condemns 'open wounds' of war

1st holiday blessing to crowd of 5,000

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Pope Leo XIV greets faithful from the popemobile before delivering the traditional Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi speech to the city and the world, at the Vatican, yesterday.

(REUTERS)

Pope Leo XIV renewed his calls for peace yesterday when he delivered his first Christmas blessing from St Peter's Basilica, capping a year overshadowed by conflict but also marked by fragile hopes for peace around the world.

Pope Leo decried conditions for Palestinians in Gaza in his Christmas sermon yesterday, in an unusually direct appeal during what is normally a solemn, spiritual service on the day Christians across the globe celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Pope Leo, the first US pope, said the story of Jesus being born in a stable showed that God had "pitched his fragile tent" among the people of the world.

"How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?" he asked.

Pope Leo, who was celebrating his first Christmas after being elected in May by the world's cardinals to succeed the late Pope Francis, has a more quiet, diplomatic style than his predecessor and usually refrains from making political references in his sermons.