« I plead for an end to the military operations with their appalling harvest of innocent civilian victims, » Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis delivered a charged political Christmas message in which he bemoaned the « appalling harvest » of innocent civilians amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the 87-year-old called for an end to conflicts across the globe as thousands filled the square in the Vatican City on Christmas Day.
But the pontiff, who has been head of the Catholic Church since 2013, used a large segment of his speech to address the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
He told the large gathering his « heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack of October 7. »
Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of approximately 240 hostages.
