Current:Home > FinancePope Francis blasts the weapons industry, appeals for peace in Christmas message -WealthStream
Pope Francis blasts the weapons industry, appeals for peace in Christmas message
View
Date:2025-04-16 19:27:39
Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its "instruments of death" that fuel wars, as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians.
Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to the throngs of people below, Francis said he grieved the "abominable attack" of Hamas against southern Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of hostages. And he begged for an end to Israel's military campaign in Gaza and the "appalling harvest of innocent civilians" as he called for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.
Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said that Bethlehem "is a place of sorrow and silence" this year.
"My heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of 7 October, and I reiterate my urgent appeal for the liberation of those still being held hostage," he said during the "Urbi and Orbi" ("To the City and the World") blessing. "I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims, and call for a solution to the desperate humanitarian situation by an opening to the provision of humanitarian aid."
Francis' annual "Urbi et Orbi" speech typically offers a lament of all the misery facing the world, and this year's edition was no different. From Armenia and Azerbaijan to Syria and Yemen, Ukraine to South Sudan and Congo and the Korean peninsula, Francis appealed for humanitarian initiatives, dialogue and security to prevail over violence and death.
He called for governments and people of goodwill in the Americas in particular to address the "troubling phenomenon" of migration and its "unscrupulous traffickers" who take advantage of innocents just looking for a better life.
He took particular aim at the weapons industry, which he said was fueling the conflicts around the globe with scarcely anyone paying attention.
"It should be talked about and written about, so as to bring to light the interests and the profits that move the puppet strings of war," he said. "And how can we even speak of peace, when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?"
Francis has frequently blasted the weapons industry as "merchants of death" and has said that wars today, in Ukraine, in particular, are being used to try out new weapons or use up old stockpiles.
He called for peace between Israel and Palestinians, and for the conflict to be resolved "through sincere and persevering dialogue between the parties, sustained by strong political will and the support of the international community."
The devastating conflict in the Middle East was a theme of his comments on Christmas Eve, as well, when the pontiff said, "Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world."
Pope Francis, who is 87 years old and has struggled with a number of health issues, including a recent bout with what the Vatican described as "lung inflammation," used a wheelchair during parts of his Christmas events at the Vatican.
- In:
- Pope Francis
- Religion
- Christmas
- Catholic Church
veryGood! (3)
Related
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Tori Spelling Says She’s “Never Felt More Alone” After Filing for Divorce From Dean McDermott
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs returns to Instagram following home raids, lawsuits
- Lou Conter, last survivor of USS Arizona from Pearl Harbor attack, dies at 102
- Tarte Shape Tape Concealer Sells Once Every 4 Seconds: Get 50% Off Before It's Gone
- Devin Booker cooks Pelicans with 52 points, hitting career-high eight 3s in huge Suns win
- Prediction: This will be Nvidia's next big move
- Maroon 5 was right: Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger still has the 'Moves Like Jagger' at 80
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- The Daily Money: Who wants to live to 100?
Ranking
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Google to purge billions of files containing personal data in settlement of Chrome privacy case
- Shop Major Urban Decay Cosmetics Discounts, 63% Off Abercrombie Onesies and Today’s Best Deals
- Arizona names Pluto as its official state planet — except it's technically not a planet
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- West Coast whale population recovers 5 years after hundreds washed up ashore
- House fire in Boston kills 1, injures several others and damages multiple buildings
- How many days until WrestleMania 40? How to watch Roman Reigns, The Rock, and more
Recommendation
In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
Refinery fire leaves two employees injured in the Texas Panhandle
California woman's conviction for murdering her husband overturned after two decades in prison
Mass shooting outside Indianapolis mall leaves 7 injured, all children and teens, police say
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Orlando city commissioner charged, accused of using 96-year-old's money on personal expenses
Judge refuses to toss out tax case against Hunter Biden
Young children misbehave. Some are kicked out of school for acting their age