Pope Francis said the world suffers from a “hunger for peace” and called for an end to the “pointless war” in Ukraine during the Vatican’s annual Christmas message.
Ahead of his tenth “Urbi et Orbi” – a blessing to Rome and the world – Pope Francis urged people to look beyond the “tile Christmas glow” and help those that are experiencing hardship around the world.
“Let’s take a look at the faces of all these children who yearn for peace in all places in the world,” he said on Sunday, speaking from the central balcony of St. Peter.
“Let’s also take a look at the faces of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who’re experiencing this Christmas in darkness and cold, removed from their homes due to the devastation attributable to ten months of war.”
While the war in Ukraine, now 10 months old, was the focus of his 10-minute speech, the Pope also noted that the “hunger for peace” threatens other corners of the world.
![Pope Francis addresses the Vatican](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/pope-francis-vatican-christmas-05.jpg?w=1024)
“The war in Ukraine has made this example even worse, putting entire nations liable to famine, especially in Afghanistan and the countries of the Horn of Africa,” he said.
“We all know that each war causes famine and uses food as a weapon, hindering its distribution to people already suffering,” he added, noting that leaders should make food “only an instrument of peace.”
While the world celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace, humanity is experiencing a “grave hunger for peace,” the Pope said, referring to conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Myanmar, Haiti and the Sahel region of Africa.
![Pope Francis delivers his message from a balcony](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/pope-francis-vatican-christmas-04.jpg?w=1024)
He also called for the resumption of dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land, the birthplace of Jesus. The pope issued a similar appeal in November after deadly bombings in Jerusalem and clashes in the occupied West Bank.
His message was followed by the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing, recited in Latin in addition to in many other languages for the public to see each in the Vatican and around the world.
With postal wires.